Whadayamean Christmas hasn’t happened yet? Just emerged out of a peaceful seven day meditation retreat at home and was surprised to see that Christmas is still a week away! Seems like ages ago that I attended the tree lighting, the parade, and the Christmas Market.
Sneaked out of the retreat in disguise last night to take some photos of the Lighted Boat Parade. After two boats sailed by with much pomp and circumstance, doing circles in the Marina before heading out to the Strait, the woman next to me asked, “Do you know how many boats there will be?” I laughed and said, “Evidently, only two.” I may have missed one. The most ostentatious vessel, an old metal working boat, was decorated with multi-colored lights, blow-up Santa and reindeer, spinning Christmas trees, and super-sized lighted candy canes seemingly dancing on the decks. Every few minutes the behemoth would blast out loud honks to the beat of Jingle Bells. The second boat was an elegant sailboat, golden lights outlining the sails as it motored out to the Strait. Other boats were decorated down by the Yacht Club but weren’t part of the parade. The Marina houses around 300-plus boats. If even one percent of those participated in the parade, we would have three entries vying for prizes. Wikipedia says a parade is a procession of 15 or more people or five or more vehicles. Perhaps “cavalcade” is a better description and less grand. The Newport Beach Boat Parade it wasn’t, more like a pop-up, but it had its charm.
Saturday the 9th was a perfect day for a parade — clear blue skies with hints of the coming spring — French and Spanish lavender in bloom, ice plant with buds about to burst, and nasturtiums already showing bright orange blossoms. All this just outside my front door. I remembered last year when drenching rain halted all but the most hardy participants. Had taken shelter under the Washington House balcony as Mandalorians, Burmese dogs in rain gear, and the Benicia High School Band braved it out in slickers and galoshes. Santa was pelted with wind and rain as he splashed by in a golf cart. The crowds stayed home.
Walked down East B St. a half hour before the parade began hoping to see the entries as they gathered. Geese were lined up along the Green, and the big balloon house was still limp on the ground as I passed dancers practicing their routines and vendors putting the finishing touches on their booths at the Christmas Fair on lower First.
At 10 am sharp, Benicia Police started the parade with sirens bleeping. Benicia Veterans’ Honor Guard started things off led by a senior veteran in a jeep followed by the color guard. Then came the Benicia Cub Scouts in their dress uniforms followed by parents and some older scouts — one gazing at his phone as he tried to keep up. According to the schedule, City officials and politicians were next, but I must have missed them down at my end of the street. Benicia Ballet dancers were dressed in their Nutcracker costumes followed by the Burmese Mountain Dog Club of Northern California. One frisky pup took off running toward the crowd as his handler tried to rein him in. The Girl Scouts theme was hot cocoa and cookies. Heads and shoulders emerged out of huge teacups held up by suspenders with saucers looking like tutus. Parents followed wearing sandwich boards painted like Christmas cookies. Reminded me of why I joined the Brownies in grade school – not to earn badges but had heard that I could have as many cookies as I wanted. And I did.
The pace of the parade wasn’t tightly choreographed allowing time to get a free hot chocolate at 1st Northern California Credit Union before the next entrant rounded the corner.
There was the Viking Middle School Band, All City Dance and Cheer, St. Dominics, the Benicia Tractor Club with the Grinch maneuvering one of them, and The Fancy Dance Team, a smartly turned out precision team of little girls in green tutus and red sequined tops waiting for their cue to dance. The older girls in matching mini dresses performed their own routine and had the crowd rockin’. Boyz Under the Hood wowed in their shiny vintage Pontiac GTOs and Chevy’s. The always dependable Benicia High School Panther’s Marching Band did not disappoint and preceded the Grand Finale — Santa and Mrs. Claus looking jolly in matching red velvet. But why were they walking? Where was the golf cart? Mrs. Claus was still wearing her apron from earlier when she was baking cookies. Part of her job description has always been to take care of the reindeer and Santa and the Elves, which is no small feat. Yet have never known her called anything other than Mrs. Claus. This woman has agency. (Just checked on-line.) According to Wikipedia, she has been called Gertrude and sometimes Jessica in more recent lore. But Santa is the man who brings the presents, thus the top billing. After all of their hard work they deserve to ride in one of the vintage convertibles next year. Heck, I’ll even pop for an Uber if that isn’t possible.
The crowd was almost as interesting as the parade. Spotted two different families of four dressed in identical plaid flannel pajamas, one little girl pairing her pajamas with bright purple rain boots. Pink and white fake fur coats and hats with teddy bear ears were a popular choice. One precious little girl who couldn’t have been more than two was carrying a bucket almost as big as she was filled with candy canes which she handed to kids along the route. A baby collie seemed to be happy with his view of the parade, zipped up to his neck in a backpack, his paws resting on his master’s shoulders.
May your holidays be happy and healthy. See you next year!
Letters From Benicia 