Dan Schreiber arrived in C-U in 1990, allegedly only to stay until his wife finished graduate school. He is still here, quite willingly, and has worked at Spyglass and SourceGear (the latter as a partner). He has recently left the software industry to pursue freelance writing, sometimes as a Minor Mennonite. He worries that he is not making adequate progress in his attempts to convince people that war is bad and violence is wrong.
Every parade should be like the Washington Street Parade.
It should be led by a single fire truck, followed by a homemade sign.
The band should be filled with neighbors who value community and know only one song: “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
It should consist primarily of cute neighborhood kids riding their newly decorated wagons, tricycles, and bikes.
Lastly, there should always be a storm trooper walking with his family.
Comments (6)
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 12:15 PM
Where and when did it start? Was it on the fourth? Who sponsored it? Were the police and fire costs volunteers? I guess if you have to ask, you are not invited. Was it advertised? Was this the first one?
And you wonder where they get that elitist material...
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 12:47 PM
So true. SITTING and WATCHING a parade isn't fun. It should be about interaction. In my hometown we just stand on the side of the street while a bunch of strangers wave to us. Look at those pictures--the people are actually smiling and having fun.
Nice piece.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 12:50 PM
This article is awesome - especially teh part about the storm trooper. Thanks for adding a touch of humor to this sometimes stale and over analytic community.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:07 PM
Hey Ad, the Washington St. Parade is one of the many small neighborhood parades that are held in CU on the morning of the 4th of the July. I believe WSP is one of the oldest.
This isn't really a journalistic piece with the whos, whats, and wheres, even though I see that it might be confusing without a separate preview on neighborhood parades. Maybe next year.
Not sure what you mean by the elitist material though.
Sunday, July 13, 2008 1:02 PM
Thanks for this. I haven't wanted to go to a parade for a long time. I wasn't aware of these little community parades, but they make me want to attend.
Monday, July 21, 2008 4:38 PM
Ad, the Washington Street Parade is not some subversive commie plot to infiltrate the young and impressionable minds of our children. it's just a product of a community that, more than anything else, seeks to come together and enjoy what is both similar and distinctive. For 25 years, it's been about good people having a good time. Community. Oops, I think I said that.
Ad, lighten up. Look for tree-huggin', frog-lickin' subversive plots in your own neighborhood.