I really didn't want to go today. It was supposed to be in the 90s, which is extremely hot for our corner of New Hampshire. The parade was in Amherst, NH and I had told the Hodes for Senate Campaign that I would march with them a few days ago. Well, the definition of integrity in my book is doing what you said you would do even though your feelings have changed since you said it. So I went.
I'm running for office too -- an obscure election for Hillsborough County Registrar of Deeds. The party needed someone to fill the slot and seemed overjoyed when I volunteered. Then, on the last day possible, someone else filed for the positon and now I have a primary to face. My primary opponent ran two years ago for this same position and lost to the Republican candidate. I've got zero name recognition outside of my immediate hometown area which is in the westernmost part of the state and this parade, in the eastern and more populated part of the state would put me in sight of many people who had never heard of me. The Hodes campaign very kindly said that I could carry my homemade campaign sign in their contingent. I feel very strongly about getting Paul Hodes elected Senator. He is a smart, genuinely good man with good instincts and a real desire to serve the people of the state rather than milk special interests. It's also an excellent chance to take a Senate seat away from the Republicans.
Amherst is another one of those lovely New Hampshire towns. Located a bit to the west and between the two major NH cities of Manchester and Nashua, it retains that country, colonial feel rather than resembling a suburb. When we finally reached the school where the parade was forming, flag drill teams and really good sounding marching bands were practicing impressively. I got a pretty good look and listen as I slowly made my way around the school bus circle and out of the school grounds again as the Hodes campaign was setting up at a different spot. I was glad for the slow tour of the parade setup as the problem with marching in a parade is you don't get to see it.
I had started the morning with my usual chores -- I'm raising chickens and turkeys and the house is full of young ones who hatched three days ago. The lawn is full of over one hundred chickens which I'm raising so that I might pay the high NH property taxes. The dogs needed care too. It would be too hot to bring any although my sheltie didn't agree with that. She held me up for almost fifteen minutes while she plotted to come along and stayed out of reach before she finally realized it would be too hot and allowed me to put her into the air conditioned house with my older and wiser dog. The Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dog who blesses my home stayed outside under her favorite junipur bush to guard the chickens from passing foxes and noisy fireworks across the valley towards town.
After coffee and before the Cait the Sheltie chase, I had made a freehand campaign sign, Vote Ladmer for Good Deeds, and decorated it with glittering red, white, and blue stars. When we got to the parade, I slipped my sign onto one of the smaller Hodes for Senate pole signs so that his sign and mine both showed up nicely.
I've supported Hodes since his first run for Congress and met him many times but today I saw another side of him. He and his wife Peggo are surprisingly cute. They had a big truck, decorated with balloons and hay bales carrying the children and older people. It also had a sound system --playing a tape most likely entitled Music for Politicians Marching in Parades. Heavily leaning towards the jingoistic, still the melodies, such as Springstein singing Born in the USA got the Hodes dancing. I had stationed myself right behind the leading banner behind the truck so people could read my sign and had a really good look at the Hodes as we marched. They danced their way down the road for the first half mile or so until we reached the spectators. Then the dancing broke off while Paul greeted people beside the road, warmly wishing them a happy Fourth of July. Spectators had dressed for the day, most in some version of red, white, and blue. The kids were even more dressed for the day, with full fledged, patriotic costumes. At one point, during a parade pause, a group of authentically dressed Union Soldiers went marching by, although they took a turn and went into the nearby cemetary rather than staying on the parade route. At least if I couldn't see the parade itself, those watching the parade were worth seeing.
After about a mile of marching, I was thrilled when someone at the side of the road read my sign out loud. People were reading it! At least one. Inspired by this, at some of the many parade pauses, I'd visit people beside the road wearing stickers for Democrats, introduce myself, shake their hand, and ask for their vote in the primary. Everybody was very nice and everyone said yes. I practiced the queenly wave when the parade was moving. Finally we made a turn into the center of town and I realized that I was smiling and waving into the lens of a TV camera. They pointed the camera at my sign! It's my first time electioneering at a public event -- bet you never guessed.
We marched past the town square which was set up with tents that had crowds of people and the most spectators watching the parade. We walked past a group holding signs declaring themselves Tea Baggers. They started chanting at our group "Tax and Spend" "Tax and Spend" I thought about chanting back "Borrow and Waste" but didn't. I also thought about the mileage that tax and spend praise has had. I'd like an equally memorable response. Anyone? We walked past Governor Lynch, who was sitting in a place of honor. He couldn't have been sitting there very long as the Lynch group had been the group parading directly in front of us the entire way.
Another long block and then there were people collecting our signs. The parade was over. We were a long, long way from my car. Suddenly the heat of the day and my lack of fittness and many excess pounds I carried through that long parade hit me. That, and the fact that there seemed to be a never ending uphill on the route back. I had carried electrolyte beverages along with me during the parade and made certain I drank enough but now my head was slightly spinning and lifting my feet got harder. The only comforting thing was now we were passing lovely horse farms. I love horses dearly. They were a good distraction. After another half mile, still headed uphill, I saw some inviting, soft looking granite steps in front of a house and sat. Large trees shaded the steps and a breeze eased the heat of the day. Slowly my head started to clear and I watched various other groups pass by. The couple who head the county democrats came by and commented on the fact that I had my own special parade passing by. A car stopped and asked if we'd like a ride. At my walking speed, we'd have been another half hour reaching the car and the ride offer was very welcome.
The Hodes had no time to rest as another parade was due to start in Merrimack in a half hour. Merrimack was about a twenty minute drive from Amherst. I had been invited to march in the parade too. I passed on that opportunity and went home and collapsed instead.
One advantage to living up high as I do is that I'll have a very good view of the fireworks that are set off for miles. Tonight after dark, I'll turn off the house lights and watch the celebrations in the distance.
I hope all of you have a great Fourth of July!