I Love a RODEO Parade
In preparation for the release of my debut book, The Bull Rider’s Brother, available now for preorder through Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/The-Bull-Riders-Brother-ebook/dp/B008195C2I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336733040&sr=8-1), I’ve been doing some twitter posts on different Idaho rodeo’s and rodeo facts.
You can follow along at #loverodeo.
My fondest memory is of watching the rodeo parade. Every evening we’d pack into the car, and drive the twenty miles into town to land at my married sister’s house. Her home sat right on the parade route. So we had front row seats. Bonus!
Every night the rodeo ran, the parade snaked its way through town to the rodeo grounds. A rodeo parade is different than a normal hometown parade. There are a few cars with local celebrities or beauty queens. The local high school band was always a hit. But most of the entries aren’t floats or cars. Riding groups dominate. An occasional covered wagon or horse drawn carriage floated by, their occupants dressed in old time clothes, a reminder of the old west roots. And the Stampede had its own stage coach leading the parade to the end.
I loved watching the different horse groups and dreamed of someday owning my own horse I could brush and groom and ride in the parade. I still love horses and dream of ranch life.
Maybe someday I’ll be the one waving to you from the back of my mustang or quarter horse while the parade passes by. Could happen.
What dreams did you have as a kid? Did you want to ride? Or be a fire fighter? Or be a rodeo clown?
8 comments:
I wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder and ride around in a covered wagon. Seriously.
Great post, Lynn. My teenage daughter and I watched a TV series a while back about a circus. She'd mentioned wanting to beocme a tight-rope walker. Not anymore, though. Now she wants to be a Victoria's Secret model. :)
Excellent post, Lynn! I love parades, no matter what kind. Having grown up between New Orleans and Mobile, both the i-ching of Mardi Gras parades, I know a little bit about the thrill you've described.
Even now, I still love parades and take my kids to whichever parade happens for that particular holiday (St. Patrick's Day, Memorial Day, etc.) so we can watch the groups, the cars, and the horses go by.
Laura - Jim and I were just talking about one of the episodes of Little House a couple nights ago...
I loved the books.
I think a tight rope walker would be cool. Except for the hight thing. LOL
I guess she's still performing.
Pamalala -
In my last city I lived in here in IL the parade when right by my house. Score candy twice a year.
When I was a kid I always wanted to have a horse, too. Living in The Bronx kind of put a damper on that idea. We had a back yard, so I thought my mother was being entirely unreasonable. I also never understood her refusal to let me have a dolphin - we had an above ground swimming pool, for pete's sake. What else would a dolphin need?
I don't think I'll ever own a dolphin, but a horse might still be in the cards. Maybe I'll be able to join you in that parade! :)
Maura - so now the flipper song's running through my head. LOL
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