Small Town Life

Benjamin came home on Thursday from school telling me that there was a float in the Christmas parade  and he just knew that I wouldn't let him go on it.  Confused?  So was I.  I slowed him down a little and tried to solicit some more concrete facts.  I then asked Jacob and Hannah if their school was putting a float in the Santa Clause parade.  They said no and that Ben was probably confused with the daycare float.  But, good old Ben, he kept insisting that there was a float and that the kindergarteners could go on it and that Mr. P said that he could come dressed as either an animal or God.  I don't have any God costumes so I hoped that he would choose an animal if in fact the float materialised.  So, I phoned the school and talked with Ben's teacher who indeed confirmed that Ben was correct.  In her words, God bless his little soul, he was completely right.  She said that only eight students had responded to the float request so it would be helpful if our older children also wanted to take part.   

From the above picture you can see that Jacob enthusiastically volunteered to play one of the three wise men.  (Yes, Anne-Marie G., that is your tree skirt.  I asked Mom if I could have it since we had no tree skirt and it has since doubled as a regal costume more than once.  Thank you.)

Ben chose to be a lamb.  That was probably a good choice as the nativity scene does not include penguins, dragons, zebra or giraffe, our other costume selections.  I asked him for a kiss just before I took this picture and he shook his head in embarrassment.

Ben's teacher is the fourth from the left, Mrs. E.  The educational assistant in his class, who provides music and a lot more each day, is Mr. P., second from the left.  Mrs. E's husband hammered together the stable.  Apparently its next life will be as a chicken coop.

I had to take a picture of this float as Mary and Joseph are a senior same-sex couple.  Wouldn't Lady Gaga be proud of us.  I don't think that anything so agenda-driven was behind these two ladies, just a lack of men in whatever club they were representing.  Nevertheless, I couldn't resist a picture.  I will provide no further commentary.

Jacob waving frantically when he spots us in the crowd.

Hannah had initially refused to participate in the float but she couldn't resist when her principal, Mrs. F., asked her to walk beside her and hold the school banner.  I think you can tell who Mrs. F. is.  These sorts of things make me very happy that the Catholic school system is still alive and pretty well.  It might have its faults but what would we have without it?  With it we still have a place where our children freely celebrate their faith and even march publicly to proclaim it.  That makes me very grateful and willing to keep fighting for its existence.  I try never to forget that the Catholic school system is the only place that many kids ever encounter anything to do with God and His love for each of us.

By the time I saw Ben he had abandoned his sheep hood to get a better look at the parade.  He was positively wired with excitement.  Jacob told me later that he found the float quite boring and got rather tired of yelling Merry Christmas.  He told me, "I would have much rather scrambled for candy on the sidewalk."  I then asked Ben what his favourite part was.  I thought that he might say that he really enjoyed the three horses that marched a few floats ahead of him.  I should have realised that his answer would be related to the horses, just not in the way I expected.  

Me:  What was your favourite part about the parade, Ben?

Ben:  The poo!!!  There were three piles and Mrs. E. almost stepped in it!

He keeps me grounded.