A Parade

 

Daily Gratitude Year 9 - Day 258: Today, I am grateful for a parade.

Honestly, my sister-in-love, Jennifer, loves a parade. She really does. For me, I think it is more about the people gathering on the sidelines. I love the time spent in the pregnant pause while waiting for the parade to pass. 

Last year, the usual Pumpkin Parade didn't happen because of a pandemic. This year, the idea of sitting together again is sweet. These pictures are from 2019. This year, the anticipation is sweeter than it was two years ago. This year, we will not take the gathering for granted. 

This year, we will cheer on the bands. We love the floats, as we know the work that goes into them. We share pumpkin treats and apple cider slushies are a breakfast treat on parade day. 

This year, we will savor each element a little more. 

Each year, the Pumpkin Festival is a kind of homecoming. People jokingly call it Morton's World's Fair, but the truth is that Mortonites who live all over the world have been known to try and make it home for the festival. It is a time to celebrate tradition and family. Our family has more than 30 years of gathering together. 

I am reminded of this scripture passage:

 "They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem.
    They will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts— the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone. The young women will dance for joy, and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing. -Jeremiah 31:12-13

This year, we will savor the time together even more. There will be drums, music, dancing, singing, candy, pumpkins, laughter and joy in the gathering.

Today, I am grateful for a parade.