In Santa Barbara we celebrate the Summer Solstice with a parade, on the nearest Saturday of the longest day of the year. This year we were 2 days close after. I've just come from the parade -- a visit to childhood fantasy.



Mostly I watched the children watching the parade. The dragons, people walking on stilts waving fluttering bright colored banners, foil wrapped knights sporting cardboard swords, grass skirted hula dancers moving to the deep beat of every type of drum, scantily clad roller skating harem girls, and, lastly, a young lady swaying, balancing on a ring in a huge, plastic bubble. The spirit is light, happy, fun. It felt like a totally painless injection. You cannot help but clap. The children cannot help but dance.



The parade rules are strict. No motorized vehicles, no political or religious statements or themes, nothing at all commercial. Just groups and individuals who want to be a part of the Solstice celebration. The parade ends at a park where the fun continues with music, food and craft booths and more performances. The tradition was started many years ago by a man named Michael who wanted to dance down State Street to celebrate his birthday. He's gone now and God bless him.



Some day Patrick won't have to work week-ends and holidays and can go to these things with me. That would be more fun...



And, if you're reading this and don't live here, visit me at Summer Solstice time and we'll go to the next parade together.



Happy Solstice!!!