The pool it still as glass as reflections of red, white and blue pinwheels wait for a flutter of wind on this warm, muggy day of the 4th of July. In a few minutes we will gather for a trip up toward marble-head to see a traditional parade and watch Anya take a ride on the carousel.
When I was a kid we would gather on the fourth to take a ride to town to see one of the biggest parades in Colorado i downtown Greeley. Local groups would decorate floats for the parade, pulled slowly through the streets for the delight of eager children. Old cars holding dignitaries from the community and rodeo queen perched a top stately horses pranced along the parade route. Clowns riding bicycles, some of which had big wheels in the front and a small wheel in the back responded to giggles and smiles from the children.
Bands from the local high schools and junior high marched by. I always hoped they would play when they passed our way.
When I was in junior high I took up an instrument – bassoon. It is not a marching instrument, so Mr. Faulkner, our band leader, gave me a glockenspiel to play along the parade route. It was a big old thing for a little kid to carry. It was in the shape of a lire and had metal keys on both sides that you struck with a mallet. You would wear a thick strap around catty corner around your shoulder and place the instrument into the leather pouch on the other side, then support it with your left arm and play it with your right. That is probably when I became somewhat ambidextrous, as I really was left handed trying to play with my right hand. Pianos must give yout that same ability.
The glockenspiel lets off a really high pitch sound and can be heard above most other instruments. I’m not sure I hit all the correct notes, but no one seemed to complain. It sure wasn’t a worry at the time.
Our band marched in so many parades in the summer that I wore a hole in a pair of Keds (canvas ties shoes – first type of tennis shoes) clear to my socks. They were really expensive shoes for the my parents budget at the time. I remember when my mom and I when back to the store for a refund of some type or discount on the next pair of shoes. The shop keeper just looked at us in dismay that I have wore these shoes out so quickly as no one ever wore out the bottoms of Keds.
When I was in high school we had a much better marching band. We have two kids leading the band all decked out with uniforms with tails and a big tall hat. The pompom girls lead the band carrying a banner for Greeley High School – Wildcats. Colors were white with accents of black and orange. I played the cymbals by that time. We had marching routines that involved drummers playing cadences and the six or so cymbals players crashing at the appropriate time.
What fun. I hope to hear some good bands today.