East Aurora Independence Day Parade: Kids on Wheels Division

July 3-

I'm always a little nervous before these kind of events. I checked my streamers a thousand times, made sure the flags were zip tied on properly and reviewed the parade route with the kids using a PowerPoint and megaphone the weeks prior to our big event. We were all fired up and arrived early. After some limbering up on the swing set, we could see the time had come, many of the invited riders were already being called to the line. Just before the start, we decided to nip into Wilson Farms toget some Skittles and water, in case we got dehydrated out on the course. I felt it was a good idea at the time, but by the time we left the store, we had missed the start! What a mistake! Quickly we jumped in, but found ourselves hopelessly boxed in behind the little leaguers and a float full of senior citizens pulled by an old Willies Overland with a coolant leak. Coming down the hill to main street, we were braking while in the distance, the lead group was already accelerating down the back stretch, throwing candy as if to taunt us. My son saw the gap first, it opened on the rightside and he drove his bike through it, ringing his bell for added stealth. We blasted up the sheltered side, past the jugglers but a Shriner on alittle car closed the door and we were done for the day, well out of the money. The parade wound down Park Street and we looked at each other as if to say "Live to fight another day, my friend." Crossing the line, we were shocked to find we had been awarded a one dollar gift certificate to Viddlers department store, in the money after all.

Happy fourth of July

John, Kate (behind the lens as always) Evan and Aubrey