Things One through Five at the Fiesta Parade or Momma gets a Minute

[bodashe]

It is my custom to take my children and my brother’s children to every parade that passes through the main parade route of Pensacola, Florida. I affectionately call the kids, in order from oldest to youngest (ages ten through six), Things One through Four, and they generally have a monstrous time climbing on the cannon in front of the old courthouse, looking at the guts of the courthouse clock through the glass, and catching all manner of “throws” from the parade floats. I’ve never missed a “throw” parade since I started hauling these kids downtown three years ago.

However, this year’s Fiesta Parade came too soon after the birth of Thing Five. I do not have the transportation room to get five kids, two of whom are still in car seats, downtown. Not to mention the demands Thing Five, who is solely breast-fed, placed on my supervisory skills. I told my brother, Little, and my sister-in-law, Mrs. Brother, that I needed their help if my nieces were going to be able to attend the parade. Surprisingly, and for the first time, ma frère and troupe arranged to attend.

I have to say that out of all the parades I muddled through with these rambunctious children, this one may have been my favorite. The parade area wasn’t as crowded as in years and parades past. This could have been attributed to the threat of an early evening boomer, or it may be that the parade, for some unfathomable reason, was on Thursday, and not Friday. It may be summer vacation for the kiddos, but most folks have to go to work Friday morning.

Little and Mrs. Brother kept watch over Things One through Four which left me free to enjoy the sights while still managing the Tiny Tyrant, Thing Five. I sat back in the shade of the new county building annex and nursed Thing Five. A float (possibly Krewe of Lafitte, I don’t remember) passed by. It was playing Queen’s We Will Rock You. I love Queen.

Little caught my attention and pointed to a rainbow. It made me smile and have hope. Considering my life’s stresses of late, happy was a nice departure. Frankly, I was elated.

The kids caught and devoured Blue Bell ice-cream sandwiches. It was happy-in-a-wrapper as far as they were concerned.

A few minutes after the rainbow, the sky opened up and delivered the brief boomer for which this area is famous. Because I had the baby, I had to seek shelter (along with a bunch of other people who seemingly had little business hiding from a little drench – tsk, tsk). Little, Mrs. Brother, and Things One through Four stayed in the pour and continued to catch wet “throws” from drenched float participants. My smile went up a notch, though I admit a little evil thought: “it serves Little and Mrs. Brother right what with all the parades I’ve taken the Things to.”

Karma was instant. Shortly after the rain, my brother caught the most awesome set of beads I’d ever seen tossed off a Pensacola float. I told him he sucked and then took solace in the fact that I was still mostly dry.

There were newer krewes at this year’s Fiesta parade. I like the boldness of the Krewe of PLuToNiaN Warriors (included under the Krewe of Warriors umbrella). They proclaim that size doesn’t matter and insist on full reinstatement for this solar system’s recently demoted dwarf. Another newer krewe, the Krewe of Parody, was entertaining and actually looked interested in what they were doing. Plus, I got to see Jake and Elwood Blues.

Toward the end of the parade, I had Mrs. Brother hold Thing Five for a bit. Note: do not buy the Infantino SlingRider Baby Carrier. It is cute, but while it may have a handy-dandy cell phone pocket and a safety strap-in for the tiny gromlet, it is a definite waste of $26.00 + tax.  Basically, it’s a slouch purse that you shove a baby into. It’s hot. In the end, neither baby nor momma was happy. No, it doesn’t make breast-feeding easier and yes, it’s going back to Ghetto-Mart.

Finally, though, the Pensacola Fire Department engine rolled by and signaled the end of the parade. I don’t especially like parades, but the kids adore them. The company makes a parade fun. I’ve had great company at a parade and I’ve had no company at a parade. This parade was okay. This parade was fun. Even Little and Mrs. Brother seemed to enjoy themselves.

Having a different perspective made me feel at peace. I wasn’t worried about staking out a piece of barricade or where a particular Thing went when s/he got bored. Sure, I have a ton of stuff on my mind – some of it life-altering and frightening because of the big changes that may be required, but I was able to put all of that aside for a few hours and allowed to sit back and just… enjoy. Thanks Little Brother.