Peace of Crestview: Labor Day Parade

The signs said "Labor Day Parade, Brentwood Park, Monday 9:30am". A nice crowd gradually gathered; lots of kids and lots of dogs, with plenty of parents and other "grownups" sharing part of their day off. Three of our most popular veteran public servants were there, each displaying a much-appreciated gift of brevity as they quietly blended in, Austin style:)

Once again, a palpable spirit of community pervaded everything. So thank you to all of the volunteers who put this together, and to everybody who participated. I've said it before and I'll say it again; I LOVE my neighborhood.

Lots of folks (and pups) chilling, waiting for the Labor Day Parade to start...

above Brand new rescue pup "Murdoch". adopted yesterday, enjoys the scene with his new family. Welcome to the 'hood, Murdoch!

above Baby Georgia waits patiently for the festivities to start, comfy with Dad...

This intrepid bouncer managed to pogo-stick all the way around the block...

...and this kid caught some air!

County Commisioner Sarah Eckhardt

Rep Elliot Naishtat

Shining happy people in the park

The great ones play hurt

The Beginning of the Parade: Our very laid-back, do-your-own-thing Labor Day Parade started in front of the park on Arroyo Seco, ambled north to the edge of the park and turned west along the trail all the way back to Yates Avenue, around the school and back. Trooping along happily, we had lots of people walking, riding bicycles, pushing or being pushed in strollers, babies being carried, at least one unicycle, a pogo stick, and a mobility scooter. (Diversity seems to just happen around here, naturally and effortlessly.)

Free watermelon, lemonade, and mercifully brief, very upbeat "speechlets" from 3 of our favorite local politicos followed.

Scully (the dog), celebrating Labor Day in Brentwood

above Sorry this picture is so blurry but it's the only one I got of this very cool, yogurt-carrying, recycling canine. Good dog!

above Travis County Constable Bruce Elfant (left) parades with fellow veteran politico Rep. Elliott Naishtat (right)

Parading can be serious business...

Sherlock the Beagle and Friend

A Personal Note on Being Stuck in Pleasantville

(This blog was never meant to be about me at all, but this part will be the exception...)

My name is Cathey, but I'm generally known as "the fat lady on the blue scooter" with the gray dog, "Claude the Texas Blue Lacy". People notice us when I stop to smell their flowers, or to give Claude a drink , or to take pictures of their gardens, their yard art, their colorful houses...

I am always consciously grateful just to be here, which is a good thing since I'm pretty much stuck here. I live alone and don't drive anymore, but it's all good-it's like being stuck in Pepperland in "Yellow Submarine" after the Blue Meanies were conquered by LOVE. Or like being stuck in Pleasantville at the end of the movie when everything's in color and everybody's happy although nobody really has any idea what's going to happen next ; if you've gotta be stuck somewhere, this is a wonderful place in which to be stuck!

This is a great neighborhood for pedestrians, whether on foot, bikes, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or whatever. The terrain is flat, it's shady, the traffic is reasonably slow, usually sparse, and generally careful, and the main streets are wide with good visibility. And unless 'hail's hurtin' people', you always see people out and about, walking their dogs, their babies, or each other.

Claude and I are out for "walkies" almost every morning early and almost every evening at lightning bug time, depending upon conditions. (Claude does the actual walking while I "scoot".)

Brentwood/Crestview isn't a fancy neighborhood, but it's a NICE neighborhood, and having been raised in a very fancy neighborhood, I definitely prefer the mellow vibe of a NICE one to the uptight perfection of a fancy one...I treasure this laid-back, colorful 'hood and I'm just a tenant. Everybody greets us warmly, and if they seem to like dogs at all and if they just give me half a chance, I explain that the Blue Lacy is the Official Dog Breed of the State of Texas, and Bless their Hearts, they always listen patiently. I never have to consider whether they're acting that way because I'm disabled and they're just being nice, because it doesn't matter; the people here are nice, and that's all I need to know.

Peace of Crestview

Labor Day Parade

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Peace of Crestview

Labor Day Parade

No comments:

Table of Contents for this Site

Dogs in the Hood, a list in progress

A Personal Note on Being Stuck in Pleasantville

About Me

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Followers