By PHIL ATTINGER
Public Relations Director
Holiday parades are a blast!
Where else can you see moving lights and displays, set to music, accompanied by friendly people all passing by right before your eyes?
OK, where can you see that other than Disney?
It was always fun as a kid – bundled and huddled up on the curb, watching floats go by and marveling at the creative use of string lights.
It wasn’t until I started participating in parades as part of the American Red Cross that I understood how much work it is.
Sure, we’ve had a busy year with disasters, and holiday parades usually work out as a fun bit of relief at the end of the year, but they are work.
Take complicated light displays, for example. That takes a lot of patience and electrical knowledge, along with a lot of spare bulbs.
Once you get it figured out, it’s dazzling!
Another bit of wisdom comes from attaching decorations well enough that they don’t get blown away on the drive or plucked like fruit from the vehicle by low-hanging branches.
We had that happen. Guess the tree wanted a candy cane.
Too bad for the tree, it’s plastic.
Then, of course, where would we be without the walkers – cheerful people waving hands, smiling and giving a happy “Merry Christmas” to everyone on the street.
One year, during one parade, we gave out high-fives. We got lots of audience participation on that one.
This year, we had everyone shaking a jingle bell – a true “Jingle Bell Walk.” We had small bells, big bells, bells arranged in circles like wreaths. We also had “jingle straps” – little leather straps on a ring with three bells sewn onto the strap.
We had to reattach the bells after each parade. Our people were really energetic.
I encourage everyone to take a “Jingle Bell Walk” if they ever get the chance.
I have tremendous thanks for the ones who went this time, including Linda H., Cassandra, Tania, Bobbi and Russell, Linda C., Michele and Bob, Libby, Daphne, Karl, Kara G., Bill, Delta and Eric.
Very special thanks also goes to Linda S. and to Lorie for helping gather the walkers for this year’s parades.
If you didn’t walk in a parade this year, don’t worry.
There will be plenty next year. Be there with bells on.
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- Red Cross volunteers socialize with local morning radio DJs before starting the 2008 Bartow Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 12. From left are Daphne Gray, Karl Katob, Libby King, 97 Country WPCV ‘Breakfast Club’ DJs Roger Todd and Tom O’Brien, Kara Glover, Delta Schmidt, and Eric Schmidt.
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- Red Cross volunteers take a moment before walking the 2008 Havendale Parade on Friday, Dec. 5, between Winter Haven and Auburndale. From left: Public Relations Director Phil Attinger stands beside the Polk Red Cross’ Emergency Response Vehicle with Red Cross volunteers Cassandra Watson, Tania Ruiz, Bobbi Miller, Linda Haskins, and Russell Miller.
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- Linda Curtis (from left), Bob Medani, and Michele Medani pose with ‘Mickey’ after decorating up the Polk County Chapter’s Emergency Response Vehicle for the Haines City Christmas Parade on Saturday morning, Dec. 6, 2008.
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- Cassandra Watson and Linda Haskins jingle all the way down Havendale Boulevard during the 2008 Havendale Parade.
