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I don't miss the Easter Baskets of my youth as much as I miss the tradition of the Easter Parade.
When I was just a small caliber, I had a black shetland pony named Candy. In the small town where we lived was a large wide main street. Every year, the church would sponsor an Easter Parade down that wide main street. It was quite a big deal!
The Martinez Horsemen ( of which I am now President) would come with their mounted Flag carriers. My Dad would ride with them. They sported Kelly green hats ( really!) and white shirts and jeans and they all rode bay horses. Daddy's horse was a big bay mare he called Big Mama ( Dad wasn't too original).
My brother and I rode on the church float until I got Candy when I was 5, and I was allowed to ride her down the main street- alone.
Of course Mom says she ran the whole mile and a half along the curb,but I was five and I hardly remember that. I just remember feeling so proud of my shiny black pony. Mom had made a special red and white shirt for me, and big red yarn pom-pom's for the bridle. Candy pranced the whole way down the road as I smiled and waved. When Candy got close to the Grand Stand where the Easter Marshall sat the loud speaker announced our name. That little black pony reared straight up and walked on her hind feet just like Fury. I kept smiling and waving, and I remember thinking I must look really good on that rearing horse! I mean after all Trigger reared, and Fury and Flicka...why not Candy?
My poor mother must have had a heart attack watching all that unfold. I know I would have if it had been Lil Mama or Mimi!
But I was a show off, even then, and confident in my ability to ride anything. I just couldn't understand why Mom was so upset at the end of the parade.
I still have the little trophy they gave me.
Happy EAster everyone. I hope your memories of today will be good ones.
4 comments:
I love that you had the joy of riding and owning horses at such a young age. I had to wait until I was in my 40's, even though I rode a few friend's horses and rental horses throughout my life. It's just not the same.
I think I would have been a better rider and a lot more fearless, too, if I had had the long history of horses like so many others have had.
I've never been to an Easter Parade. I don't think they had any where I grew up. Well, I grew up in suburbia, so that would explain that. lol!
~Lisa
You were one lucky kid, your own pony and it even did tricks. Can totally get your mom's concerns but what the heck, you survived and loved every minute of it. What a cool Easter memory!
Lol, I can imagine your mama being upset!! But it paints such a great picture, your rearing black pony. Great times!!!
I used to carry the flag in our parade as a kid for our saddle club. Good times, good times :)
What a great memory! I love stories like this. My first pony was a jet black Shetland named Black Jack. He was darling- like a miniature black stallion.
I've never been to an Easter parade, either. My biggest memory was dressing up in fancy dresses with my sister and my cousins and then expectantly waiting for our Easter baskets that morning!
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