Monday, November 22, 2010

Parade of Lights

I'm not sure I even need to pump up this title with a quote or proof of its amazing qualities.  It's a PARADE.  Of LIGHTS.  Christmas lights!

I begrudgingly (very begrudgingly) went to this even by myself.  Not only are Christmas lights one of the top five most romantic things to look at, but a Charlie Brown Christmas was being shown at the old Stiefel Theatre directly following to raise money for charity.  And it only cost one dollar.  Talk about the perfect date -- Christmas lights, music, hot cocoa, and warming up next to each other watching Charlie Brown.  I couldn't create a more perfect situation if I tried.  

Of course every time I really find something this perfect, I'm all alone.  It's good for me, right?  My roommate was out of town, and everyone else I know was too far away or wrapped up in their own life.  You know -- children, in-laws, date night, taking naps.  Things I have no concept of.  Except the naps.  I had been doing that practically all day.  So getting myself motivated to shower and dress in so many clothes to stay warm was an obstacle in itself.  But I did it!  Because I knew my five faithful readers would like to hear about it, and I needed to snap out of a lazy Saturday funk.  

So there I was, almost late to a parade downtown in Salina.  Everyone was there.  At least it looked like it.  I had to park blocks away then trot (more ladylike than a jog) to the main event.  The biggest obstacle of going to a parade by yourself? -- finding somewhere to stand that doesn't make you look like an awkward predator.  I walked up and down a couple of blocks and surveyed the land.  The parade was moving slow enough that this was possible.  I found myself pretending I was looking for someone.  Because a single lady alone at a night-time parade stands out.  And I just had to carry my new holiday purse.  I think that made it worse.  


I found a spot amidst several families with young children.  I just kept looking away from them.  If I was caught staring, they'd think I was creepy.  If I was too busy to notice them, I was obviously someone important.  The parade was great -- just as I expected.  But it was a touch too long.  An hour is too long to stand outside in winter temperatures.  People stopped caring about the lights, because all their appendages were numb.

Below is the tree inside the Stiefel, and an old fashioned fire truck, all lit up!  Some girls were even twirling fire batons.  Flashy!


I took a break 20 minutes in and got some hot chocolate.  After that, I was still cold and the hot chocolate was lukewarm, so I sought shelter beneath the twinkling lights of the Stiefel Theatre overhang.  There I met some merry old gentlemen.  We sort of huddled together and talked about how cold it was.  It started with two, and we multiplied to four.  Each time we'd exclaim how cold it was.  If we said it out loud enough, it might change. 


When the parade was over, I was in a prime spot to be first in line for Charlie Brown.  When I got inside, I turned around and walked out.  It took less than a minute for families with young children and couples holding hands and laughing to swarm upon me.  My scarf started to choke me like a turtleneck on a day when you're nauseous.  I was close to being trampled, moms with screaming children trying to escape the cold...more people talking about how cold it was...coughing and loud talking in small space...and I was all alone.  I couldn't handle it.  There was no one to grab my hand and lead me through the crowd, no one to save my seat when I had to walk around to survey the crowd like I love to do.  I knew that mom with the screaming child would be cut-throat when it came to seat pickin'.  I burst through the side door and took a loud breath.  Freedom.  Sometimes it feels so good to be dramatic.

Funny thing was -- after all that, I wasn't the least bit disappointed in myself.  I was only disappointed I didn't get the charming experience of seeing Charlie Brown at the Stiefel.  I think we have to know our limits.  If I was with another person, I wouldn't agree to do something that made me uncomfortable.  Or would I?  I think peer pressure can be positive and negative.  The power of company.  An interesting social experiment at the very least.  

The night ended with me running back to my car (I couldn't get mugged holding my new holiday purse!) and locking the doors as soon as I got in.  I was energized enough to accept the offer from my sister to come to Wichita and hang out with her.  Which I am so happy about.  I got to spend time with her that I'd been missing, and my brother even drove us to and from the fine drinking establishment where we danced the night away.  Then, all three siblings together, we ate an entire Spears pumpkin pie we bought at Quik Trip.  You can take the girl out of the country...but she keeps coming back after semi-failed attempts at being independent.