glen ellen parade

here is a purple cheetah with a flower lady, representing the nonprofit my mom volunteers with, the bouverie nature preserve. we joined a tiny parade in tiny glen ellen. everyone knew each other. lots of dogs, lots of happy kids,a very small town surrounded by woods. we ate a pumpkin cookie from a booth raising money for kids with cancer. miles stared at their bald photos a long time. the kids played a bunch of games and won candy and plastic crap. it turned out later my poor son had strep throat while he was marching in a parade in the 90 degree heat.

kind of like a street fair in sf, except a longer drive to get there, i didn't know anyone, pretty much only english being spoken, no buses, and hotter. did i mention i didn't know anyone? my mom says she can see me here in this little town. miles rolling down the streets on his heely's, maya a star in the dunbar school musical. what would i be doing here? writing a novel in my room that trees peeked into? feeling new and unknown? missing the gourmet donuts, garbage and traffic on my street, and the familiar faces?

so many people i know have fled the city for little towns like this. everyone seems equally happy no matter where they are.