My life has punctuation points.  Beginnings, pauses and endings.

I mark time with events.

One of my punctuation points is the Blowing Rock Christmas parade.

Every Saturday after Thanksgiving I try to get there.

I start my Christmas season with a parade, not a shopping trip.

I like how folks come together in the streets to celebrate the season.

The firemen start the procession.

There are costumes and characters

dancers and drummers

bands and ballerinas

horses in hats

and swinging bears.

Both naughty and nice flow past.

Santa comes at the end waving and pointing at children while smiling.

That’s how I know the season has started.

Standing on a sidewalk with strangers.

There together waiting and watching and waving.

The parade makes me pause.

When the procession ends.  The pause is over.

We all break ranks and get back to our busy lives

with smiles on our faces.

Happy Holidays

Flow