Questioning
her further back in time I discover she can remember snippets from over a
decade ago and the epic ‘Trick or Treat’ nights from our former home in College
Park, MD. – Our home used to host over 225 trick or treat visitors, theatrical
effects and music all MC’d by me dressed up as Santa. – We were Halloween!
Progression
of Multiple Sclerosis symptoms sure can affect sharing ‘traditions’. Even a 7
PM start is late for someone who prefers to go to bed by 7:30 PM.
Now
on the other hand one thing about memory loss is I do not have to get too hung
up on tradition or routine. Working exclusively in the now does allow for
creativity. Rather than sit and wait for the parade to come to us why not abandon
tradition? It was a 68˚F (20˚C) evening in October, why not arrive early and push
and roll around to visit the floats, cars, and participants while they were assembling.
‘Accessible
parading’ worked better than expected as Patti got close enough to actually see
and interact. We pushed and rolled through the staging streets (and streets
always trump sidewalks) visiting with groups as they put on finishing touches,
found ourselves in the middle of a zombie dance rehearsal, and a dancing cow
gave Patti a beach ball.
Suddenly
on some unspoken cue people assembled into parade formation and we were swept
forward in a marching band between bass drums and cymbals as pyscho-clowns on
skateboards zoomed by on both sides.
While
the band turned left we went straight and escaped laughing.
Whether
remembered or not laughing is still fun!
Caregivingly Yours, Patrick Leer
videos: www.youtube.com/daddyleer
web site: caregivinglyyours.com
If we could all escape laughing more often it would be a very good thing. ~Mary
ReplyDeleteI can somehow see, Patrick, that Halloween would be a good holiday for you, getting into the act in Halloweens past with music, costumes, effects, et al! What an adventure that must have been for the trick or treaters that came your way!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to attend the parade before the parade like this; very clever and creative! And how cute for the brief moment of time you guys marched in it; I'm sure the laughing was heard for miles over the drums!
I also "swear" too that I was just reading about this parade from last year; this year has flown!
betty