CENTERPIECE OF THE SUMMER

 This isn't deep or thought provoking. It doesn't deal with society's ills and offers no political insight or  sports commentary. And not a sentence about the "leap second."
   It's going to be light, fluffy and basic because it's summer . And the centerpiece of my summer happens on July 4 when I get to slip behind the steering wheel of a truck that isn't mine and, with my friends, The Harlem Nights Players, get to act like we're much more important than we are for just about 90 minutes.

    For our 14th year we are proud to represent St.William Parish and the fundraising events we have staged during that time, amidst bands, floats, civic groups, politicians, businesses and entertainers as we pay tribute to the great American holiday, Independence Day. This is a parade I watched from the street as a kid and made fun of from the curb as a teenager. Driving in it all these years has given me a new perspective. This is as good as a parade gets.

     As we gather in the downtown area of Elmwood Park we see the organizers who have worked on this for awhile, checking to make sure everything is going smoothly and everyone is in place. Other parade participants are milling about, checking the other floats and folks involved, smiling and laughing and socializing. I bet that dentist will be handing out toothbrushes again and that one group will be giving out t shirts.The merchants allow us washroom use which is invaluable given the water we are guzzling  It's a festival in that EP Circle as we prepare to parade, knowing hundreds of people are in the process of lining the parade route because it's the 4th of July and this is what they do. And this is what we do. We have used Santa's elves and Satan as part of our parade presentation and we have a little something planned this year that we've done previously but will be certain to get us some cheers along the route.

      During the parade we wave to people we don't know and they wave back. We toss candy and hear people yell "Hey,St.William!" (Though that particular saint is never present physically). We wave our flags and we hold up signs we hope make the folks laugh and remember who we are and what we represent. We meet so many people on that morning...in the parade and out of it. And they all have one thing in common ..they're all happy (and usually perspiring!)

        This is summer's summit.A flag wavin, high fivin' song singin' ice cream eatin' party that anyone who wants to enjoy a slice of 4th of July as it was meant to be can enjoy. It goes quickly like the season itself and soon enough we park, take our decorations off the truck, gather up any items we've used to entertain and head back home until the fireworks later. And after the parade, the days get shorter, the mosquitoes more noticeable,  the temperatures and the a/c bill creep higher and the words "Back to School" begin to proliferate. But for a morning, one sunshine filled start of a great holiday, freedom gets celebrated, people are happy ,the candy is plentiful and the music is loud and flags get waved. And people smile. Alot.

        It's the centerpiece of summer and I'll see you there. Wave at me!