Claremont's parade shows its independence
I'm not much on parades, unless I'm the grand marshal of course, but Claremont always has an entertaining July 4th parade. Since I ran out of room in Wednesday's column to note some of my favorite moments, let me belatedly mention them here.
The Goddess of Pomona clad in a white gown and a laurel rode on an electric cart from Pomona College. But don't ask me to explain why a boombox was playing "Sweet Home Alabama."
Friends of the Bernard Field Station carried signs on sticks for various plant species. Go, coastal sage scrub!
The Claremont Ukelele Club played lilting tunes on the namesake instrument while riding in a flatbed truck. The truck, for obscure reasons, dragged an 8-foot papier mache turkey on a wheeled platform with a wordy placard I couldn't see well from the sidewalk, although it seemed anti-military. Did anyone see it or get what it was about?
Less obscurely, a vehicle for a senior housing development carried several seniors blowing bubbles with bubble fluid and wands. A placard on the side read "Claremont Manor Rocks." Perhaps in no other era would even a retirement community be said to rock.
Loud applause greeted parade entries for gay marriage, peace and an end to the death penalty. You don't see that stuff in Upland.
But where were the Claremont Grammarians, who rode in the last few parades in a panel truck decorated with placards like "I Before E" and "Don't Use Contractions"?
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A journalist for more than two decades, David Allen has been writing a column for the Daily Bulletin since 1997 and blogging since 2007.He lives in Claremont.
E-mail David here or read columns here.
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THE Goddess of Pomona? As in the blogger? Or just some anonymous Greek goddess type?
Retirement communities appeared in the Ontario parade also, but I don't recall that they blew bubbles.
[No, not the blogger. -- DA]
Oh David -- so sad, you didn't mention the 2009 California, Section 3, CIF Tennis Champions -- first time in the history of Claremont High School. One of those handsome boys waving from that truck was my grandson.
[Consider them mentioned! -- DA]
"unless I'm the grand marshal of course" -- of course -- As an esteemed resident of Claremont, I think you should be next year's grand marshal -- you could promote the reading of comic books and newspapers and shopping at record stores. Let's start a petition. I'm envisioning your float already... It'll rock way more than Sweet Home Alabama and bubble-blowing seniors.
[That's setting the bar mighty low, for which I thank you. As for my promoting "the reading of comic books and newspapers and shopping at record stores" -- sounds like a real crowd-pleaser! July 9, btw, I mark 10 years as a Claremont resident. -- DA]
Thanks for the mention of the Ukulele Club!
The 8-foot paper mache turkey was actually part of the Pomona Peace and Justice Group who was following us.
The placard read... "All those who want to cut spending on schools and healthcare and spend more on the military raise your right wing." (I'm paraphrasing of course.)
[Well, that makes more sense. I thought there was a rope connecting your truck to their rolling turkey. -- DA]
Was there some kind of an ordinance on the volume level?
[Dunno. Do you mean the parade wasn't as loud as usual? -- DA]
Yeah, I saw the Goddess impersonator too. The weird thing is that I was actually in the parade this year, trailing behind Mr. Big as he marched with his independent drum line. I wasn't wearing any fruit that day, opting instead for the anonymity of large sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. Wouldn't want anyone to see me slumming in Claremont, would I?
G of P
[Apparently not! Nice of you to admit here to being a border-crosser, though. -- DA]