My local Santa parade (NOW WITH PICTURES DUE TO OVERWHELMING DEMAND)

I would have been in to USM sooner but I had gone to the local Santa Claus parade today and

enjoyed a nice deep body chill as reward.

Now, considering that the town that I live in houses upwards of 234,000 people, you can imagine

the high level of parade that is going to be coming your way and in this, they did not disappoint.

The Santa parade was quite the spectacle!

It began with a fire department aerial pumper

, followed closely by a big ambulance

which was followed

by a medium sized ambulance

and about four smaller ambulances

and their supervisor in an SUV

At this point, I should not forget to mention the very high pitched and shrill screaming

that only

very young children are capable of in anticipation of seeing the big guy

coming soon.

Moving along, there was a mobile crane

, some dogs

, three mobility scooters

and a dump truck

A semi with a flatbed trailer

seemed to be hauling a load of discarded children

wailing

out something but

my hearing ain't what it used to be

so I can only surmise that it was a call for help

, given the looks on

their faces

. The only alternate explanation is that they were cognizant of the frostbite setting in

Inflatable gingerbread men

were apparently not a fan favourite of spectator's dogs

as they got barked at

up and down the route. The real dogs in the parade got more favorable attention. Each got a friendly sniff

or wag

I saw a 1972 Plymouth Fury station wagon

that looked like it's front clip was beginning to sag and felt pity for it

with it's overload of car-bending children and adults

Many more of those inflated costumed characters

floated by - The Grinch

was there of course with an array of

giant elves

, Christmas sharks

and even a snowman

that must have seen my distress and came over to give me a

hug

in an attempt to share body heat

. It was not successful and I froze on.

Noticeably missing today were the town's old 1950 Ford /American LaFrance pumper truck

and most of

the teams

that constitute local hockey from here to Toronto

in one direction and to Hamilton

in the other.

All of the mini bikes

and go carts

seem to be a thing of the past too - seen as too DANGEROUS by town council

and replaced by slower moving golf carts

and ATVs

. All undecorated but for the dealership names

I shouldn't be placing myself as it only makes it easier to find me and send flaming bags

but I need to add

colour

so I feel that it's necessary. Send the flaming bags if you will, I'll just have someone else answer the

door for a while

. I know who you are and there is a fruit cake

coming back at you.

A brand new GMC 4x4

pulling a horse trailer

covered with clear lights

was offered up by a local car dealership

and next in line was a horse-drawn carriage

carrying the Mayor

and the winner of a colouring contest

There was so much more to see during the one and a half hour holiday convoy

and I can't quite remember it all due

to a feeble mind

and the sheer amount of blatant commercialism

drifting by my eyes

but, in one single float, I once

again felt the sense of Christmas. The final float carrying Santa, the reindeer and his sleigh

was quite well assembled

and did not appear as it has in years past as being slapped together by a troop of eight year olds

and a drunken carpenter

I recall bygone parades where a torn black and chrome stacking cafeteria chair

adorned with budget crepe streamers

(also known as toilet tissue)

was more the norm. This was not an A-Team

effort.

The only real delight of the day was to see the next two generations. Young parents with their children.

Kids don't care much about what all the politicians and others are taking up arms over in an effort to shield

them from all the "bad stuff". They just don't care. Let them have their magic while it's still out there.

Sorry; no pictures today. I can add some if I get at least ten requests to do so.

Afterthought