Hippos on Parade

I really haven't been much in the so-called "Christmas Spirit" so far this year. We haven't put up the tree, and if it wasn't our year to spend Christmas with Spidey, we probably wouldn't even bother. Which is kind of sad for me, really, because the holidays are usually a happy time of year for me, and all the lights and decorations really lift my spirits.

The year leading up to this point has just taken too much of a toll on me, though. I lost my grandfather and I lost Miya. I've been in therapy since April to deal with many issues, some of wish I can't discuss here quite yet, that have been plaguing me for probably 20 years. I was down and out for about half of July due to my appendix. At my job and with my particular client, holidays are THE busiest time of the year and major moneymaker, which equals long stressful hours for me & my team. As with everyone else, there is also the constant threat of layoffs and dire employment news.

I'm just exhausted, burnt out, emotionally raw, and beaten down. Even the holidays can't lift my spirits this time.

But since Spidey is here, I don't want to deny him the enjoyment of a Christmas tree and decorations and good memories. We only get to spend Christmas morning every other year with him. So we will have the tree, and even though money is tight, we will do what we can to keep with some of our fun traditions and have a nice Christmas.

Plus, the cats would sulk if they didn't have the annual Spikey Green Beast to destroy for a few weeks.

Anyways, even though I wasn't much in the spirit of things, I decided to attend the Gallatin Christmas Parade this year. Adam was participating to help out his family with their entry. The parade had over 100 entrants this year, and they were all supposed to have a minute to stop for judging in front of the Gallatin Public Library.

So I found myself smack dab in front of the library, freezing my butt off and waiting for entrant #80, camera in hand. There was plenty to see before then, though.

There were clowns.


And classic cars.


And music.


And cows.


And LOTS of dancing. I believe this was choreographed dance group #376,504.


And Grinches with fake snow.


And safaris, thanks to Safari Studio Adventures, entrant #80...my father-in-law.


And for those of you familiar with "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" we have...a hippo.


Sadly, they took so much time with the earlier entrants that the later ones did not have time to stop, and the hippo didn't get to jump down and dance like he had planned.

After #80, I gave up and left. It was cold, and the parade was just way too long. Next year, they definitely need to coordinate better and limit the entrants. Other than that, it was pretty entertaining.



Have YOU hugged a hippo today?