Cowpokes Ride in Parade
Every other year, the Castro Valley community hosts the Rowell Ranch Parade. To kick off the event, the city celebrates with a 150-entry parade down the CV Boulevard. Clowns, antique cars, dancing Mexican horses, veterans, helicopters, marching bands, it’s all there.
Our cooperative preschool parents came together to participate, even though the usual flatbed truck was not available. We scrambled, we hauled hay, we painted….
The result is this beautiful “float”, celebrating Cowboys of yesterday, present and future. One of the moms did the portraits with crayons. Kotomi and I contributed our artistic talent by hosting a painting party at our house to create the large 2 x 12 banner that decorated the trailer. Colorful, glittery boots made with stencils and 90 minutes of work by 3 other moms made for a lovely addition to our entry. Kotomi was very proud of her “blue boot with gold glitter” that she did by herself. She added her hand prints (as did her friend Coen and brother Kiyoshi).
Parade day was sunny and warm. We packed into the back of the Huska’s truck and trailer, waving at our community and hollerin’ “Yeeeee—haaaa!” and “Yippee Kai Yay!” Kotomi was a lovely rodeo princess, waving at babies and “dogs wearing shirts” along the route. We were both especially excited to see Papa, Milagro and Kiyoshi on the sidewalk as we went by.
Oh yeah, we won first place in the parade!
