Pandemics, protests, and political mudslinging — it all gets to be too much after awhile, and when it does I have to find some relief.  For me, grandchildren provide the best source of relief. They don’t have to be doing anything special, but when they do, it can be a genuine treat.

One such treat came yesterday when grandchildren Christopher and Emma Cormany took part in a neighborhood 4th of July parade just a few blocks from their home. The procession started at Cranbrook Elementary School and went in a loop past local homes before returning to the school parking lot.  Some parade participants made a second loop, but others settled for just one given the brutal 90 plus-degree heat. The beauty of this little parade could be found in large part from its simplicity. There were no grand floats or marching bands, no over-aggressive observers jockeying for seats; just kids riding scooters and bikes decorated with crepe paper or perhaps pulled in a wagon by a mom or dad. There were also a few pets and a vintage 1950’s automobile, which led the way along with a balloon-festooned jeep.

Beauty could also be seen in the friendly feelings displayed by both parade participants and observers. People waved and smiled to strangers and friends alike; one little girl even tossed out candy as she walked along the parade route. My wife and I watched the event on the curb outside the home of long-time friend Patty Connor. Patty put us in the spirit of the day with patriotic songs blaring from her front porch and bright chalk-drawn stars on her driveway. Becky and I shouted praise and encouragement to the parade marchers and shook the white pom-poms my son had given to us earlier. The only downside was the heat, but a hot day in July is hardly a surprise.

At the end of the parade, we met back at the school parking lot, where Becky and I took some time to admire the decorations the kids had added to Emma’s scooter and Christopher’s wagon.  Emma had also attached a pom-pom to the back of her safety helmet, making it resemble a horse’s mane.

When we drove out of the parking lot, my wife remarked that this little parade was the way most 4th of July parades used to be: fun, neighborly, and stress-free. She was right. Best of all, perhaps, the Cranbrook School parade gave us a temporary escape from a world with an abundance of stress and a shortage of neighborliness.