The 4th of July Parade is now history, and the Lockardugan clan is officially tired. As happens every year, we kick ourselves into overdrive for about two weeks prior to the event in order to get everything ready, so when the day of the parade arrives we’re already waiting for it to be over so we can go back to bed. We did use some discretion and hire out a cleaning service for the house, which made preparations much easier, and Mr. Scout installed a working sink and toilet on the first floor, which Finn officially christened the morning of the parade.

This year we had a great turnout, with lots of old friends we haven’t seen in years, along with parade stalwarts and first-year virgins. The parade itself was good but not quite as weird as we are accustomed to; the shriners, republicans, and dixieland groups all made their customary appearances, but there was no Jesus banner, there were no Mummers, no strippers, no cockroaches, and there was only one step band. I spent a lot of my time keeping an eye on Finn, keeping an eye on the house, and actually watching the parade, so I didn’t shoot nearly as many photos as usual (and really, how many ways are there to take pictures of the same thing) but I did spend time watching my daughter, sitting happily on a big-girl chair by herself, smile, clap and wave as the parade rolled out in front of her.