date: 12/06/2025
subj: twins town tree lighting and x-mas parade
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We went to the neighbors to hang out at a firepit, meet the
younger people around town. I can't believe we got an invite,
but I'm happy we did. So about 3:30 PM we got ourselves
together to join our neighbors. Our neighbors are a young couple
who have been building a huge house behind ours. They are nice,
talented people. So with our double wide stroller gifted to us,
babes buckled in, we stroller over to the neighbors to see a
firepit in their front yard. Surprised to find we are not the
first, but certainly not the last.

The babes don't hang out with many people yet and they've never
seen a fire. My son is absolutely fascinated with the fire
streaming out the top of the firepit. Others say hi to him, but
he is only focused on the fire. I totally understand where his
attention is; fire is an amazing thing, a primal thing, full of
wonder and change, a lot like the ocean's waves crashing on the
shore, which are easy to watch for a long time, just like the
fire.  Eventually he sees people, and gives them a stare, my
daughter just observed with her big eyes, everything, and
everyone.  

Around the fire I meet some of the neighbors. A Brad, a Scott, a
sailor named Paul; I think, for some reason I was so focused on
my babies, and trying to interact with people I couldn't
remember everyone's names, and maybe my lack of sleep had a bit
to do with my poor memory that night. Brad had is son there, and
my wife talked with him about babies, and sleeping. Most people
enjoyed seeing our little ones. I didn't even talked to our
neighbors (odd for me). My wife talked with more people than I,
she is younger, closer to their age than I am. She paused to get
me some hot coco, while I was talking to Scott. Scott used to
live here but now was living in Virginia or somewhere east. He
told me about making cheese, there, and growing up here. He said
it was a boys dream place to grow up. I also talked to Paul the
sailor. He told me he was starting to give boat tours around the
area, instead of around the world. I asked why the change, he
told me he rather be closer to home. He likes spending time with
his coffee in the office coordinating tours, then working on
building his next boat. I thought fascinating, the things people
do, and how exciting it must be to have a different professional
life other than computers. Next thing I know Scott's sister,
currently living in Portland and her boyfriend stand beside
Scott signaling its time to walk to the parade. She said she
didn't want to miss it again. We all departed for the parade.

Around 4 PM, well dark time, my wife, the babes, and I, stroll
down the street to claim a spot to stand in the cold waiting for
the parade to appear. We don't have to wait long before the
first sign of lights shine down the road at all us onlookers. 

On a corner where few people are we stand and watch as the small
town parade marches past us. Eventually Santa appears high up in
the back of a truck, he gestures at our son, then Santa looks to
the other side of the street, his elves throwing candy to the
children all lined up there. Then he turns again and gestures at
our daughter. His elves toss candies to our children. My wife
gathers some, skittles, tootsie rolls, dumb dumbs. Then an old
elf with a white beard walks up to us, and hands us little
fruit snacks, yum, just the kind I like. 

	Two weeks later I ate those little fruit snacks. I
	couldn't save them for 3 years for my kids to grown into
	them. 

The parade didn't last that long, and before we knew it, the
entire thing passed us by. We walked across the street to the
corner where the stop sign lives next to the taped off park
across from the In, where the tree lighting will happen. As the
night descended, it brought the chill with it. My son was
starting to get cold. I had just enough time to run home and get
him and my daughter an extra blanket to keep them warm in their
stroller.

I tried to run all the way home since I haven't ran in over a
year. That's hard work when you never do it. I get the blanket,
then run back. I figure it'll warm me up, and it certainly
did, as well as get me to breath heavier.

I return to what seemed like the entire city where my wife and
children are. The band is playing across the street at the IN,
and my daughter is asleep. I put the blanket over the kids and
tuck it in under their legs. Daughter you are going to miss the
tree lighting. My son is complaining probably due to not moving,
so I pick him up. He is fixed on all the people across the
street at the IN, all children running and playing on the lawn.
He seems to be listening to the music as well. He loves music.
We see some of our other neighbors Linda, and she introduces us
to her daughter, she says there's the papa. I respond I'm the
papa.  I've never been called papa before. I remember calling my
grandpa papa all my life, so it was interesting some people
refer to dad as papa, or pa. Then Scott who I met before says hi
to Linda and her daughter. Seems they probably know each other,
they all lived in the same neighborhood growing up. The music
stops and the town officials start talking about stuff, I didn't
pay much attention to. I was too busy thinking about my wife and
kids, and if they are enjoying this fine chilly evening. I hear
something about the lights. Its time to turn around and watch. 

The tree lights turn on, and our little town light display
shines. My son looks at all the pretty lights, he seems happy.
Our daughter blissfully sleeps through this event. Now that the
lights are on everyone starts trying to take photos. Our prime
spot on the corner quickly gets invaded by people trying to take
their pictures. One person with his group of three starts to
lean back more and more onto our stroller. I begin to get
territorial. The man is about to fall on my daughter, so I put
my hand near his back encase he starts to trip on our stroller
again.

Eventually people disperse, and my wife our son and I get to
enjoy a moment of the lights. We get photos. Our son's diaper is
totally soaked keeping the chill on him so we take a break and
stroll home to change kids diapers. We hurry as much as possible
because the boat parade is happening. Rushing out the door we
push the stroller as fast as its wobbly wheels can go down to
the peer. On the way we see the lights in the water, the boats
are already heading there. We stroll as fast as we can, and
eventually we make it down to the peer, but its so crowded its
hard to get a spot to see. We go to the lower dock and watch
from there for awhile. Our daughter begins to wake up and she
gees to see the lights of the boats pass by. We spend some time
on the dock until the last boat leaves. Then we walk back
enjoying a bit of the town. 

On the walk back we find a children's book left on a bench,
First Sea Book. Its one of those nice kids crinkle books. I put
it on our stroller and we head home. On the way we stop at the
little park so our daughter can see the lights. She seems to
enjoy them. My wife gets some more pictures with our daughter,
while our son sleeps. 

What a fun event. Next year will be even better. I'll have more
coco for us to stay warm, maybe we'll pick a spot on the main
street for the parade.