Watching the parade from a float

I’m not in parades very often, but the last two weeks I had the enjoyment of being in the Glandorf and Kalida parades.

I’m usually on the opposite end. One of those taking pictures and hoping someone will throw me a piece of candy. (Yes, I know candy is meant for the children but find adults enjoy having a piece land in their lap also.)

Being in a parade is a lot of fun. I have to admit it.

It starts with planning how to decorate the vehicle you are going to enter. I love that kind of activity, so fringe, balloons, and my own yard spinning wheel were on the list for decorations.

Then there is another fun part of being in a parade. That is finding candy to throw at the crowd. The hardest part is not eating the candy yourself before the parade. I did indulge in a few tootsie rolls prior to the parade and enjoyed some orange succors during the parade.

The most fun though is tossing the candy to the children (and some adults) and seeing the smiles on their faces when it lands right in their bag. A few adults were also smiling as they caught the candy barehanded (no catcher’s mitt needed.)

What is interesting is seeing the different personalities of the children as they stand along the curbs waiting for the parade to pass by.

Some will shout asking for candy. Others demand candy holding out their bags. Some sit quietly with their parents with hope in their eyes, offering a shy smile when candy drops at their feet. Those are my favorite ones to offer candy. I look for those children in the crowds.

This year I decided to do something different. Since I was in the parade, I had my nephew Mark Binkley do a video tape of you the spectators during the Kalida Pioneer parade. I am placing a portion of it on the website at www.putnamvoice.com. Just scroll down to the videos on the left and enjoy it.