Day 3: Community Celebrations

Whew! I wasn't sure I was going to make it today, but it looks like I'm coming in just under the wire.

Day 3: Attend and join in community celebrations.

Tonight, Jay and I went to our community's Christmas parade. The streets have tinsel decorations, the courthouse is bedecked with lights, and the town turned out to welcome the season - some with their own lights on display. The weather even cooperated, bringing gray skies, colder temperatures, and rain so that it really feels like winter.

The festivities began with local musicians performing Christmas music as the crowd assembled. Next came a non-denominational prayer, and then our Mayor shared the history of our community Christmas tree (more interesting than I would have thought it to be), followed by its being lighted.

All throughout southern Arizona, the towns and cities hold annual electric light parades - all of the entrants have to be lit up in some way. Ours began with the U.S. Marine JROTC youths presenting our country's colors, with the police providing the lighting.

Many of the local businesses, neighborhoods, organizations, schools, and community members entered floats.

My personal favorite was a float that featured Snoopy fighting the dastardly Red Baron. While I'm not sure who was responsible for this entry, they certainly went all out. Not only was it completely lit up, there were also moving parts -- Snoopy and the Red Baron moved from side to side, and up and down, as if in a dogfight.

By the time we were finished, from our cheeks to our toes, we had felt the nip of winter. We had also enjoyed joining our neighbors to celebrate this lovely holiday.

I would like to encourage everyone to get out and take part in the festivities being held in your communities.