An Ode to a Christmas parade in December.

When the streets crowd with kids and adults

walking and giggling their way to see colorful lights and

character theme floats making their way to the judges.

Bright lights streaming up, down, and all around

red fire trucks and green Christmas lights blinking

to the repeating song choices made by the children.

When you see children bundled up from head to toe

in warm blankets that stretch around their shivering bodies,

you know Christmas is moving swiftly.

When you see children running to grab candy

thrown from the moving SpongeBob floats,

crinkling of paper wrappers begin to fly off as they rush to chew gummies.

The year’s best time to gather family and friends

and hurdle together to share the lasting memories.