<

Because of her tendancy for drama and excitment, I thought maybe she thought the traffic lined up at the stoplight up the block. But no, there really was a parade marching up the street, complete with 76 trombones and coronets, cheerleaders, tractors and girls with tiaras in convertables.

One of the owners and I joined the barista on the sidewalk. The owner is also an elementary school teacher, and many of the high schoolers in the parade had been through her class. There were a lot of happy screams of, "Hey! Mrs. H!", followed by showers of Tootsie Rolls and Laffy Taffy. Then there were the gruff, slightly hostiles screams of, "Hey! Mrs. H!", followed by rocket-launched candy that might have taken her head off had she not stepped aside. Instead, the candy slammed into the plate glass window (which was recently replaced after someone threw a chair through it).

"Hey, Mrs. H.," I said. "There goes your window again."

"Shut up!" And then she slammed my knuckles with a ruler.

Watching the parade was one of those weird moments, where it doesn't feel like I'm in a major metro area. I'm a smalltown girl, born and bred in a town with a population just under 20,000. The parade made me feel like I was back there. It was sweet.

It was also funny to see the junior class with their Italian-themed float, blasting "Chatahoochie" by Alan Jackson.

That night, Kara and I ventured to the New Pornographers show. She's already reviewed the show, along with the few witty things I had to say, so I won't repeat. I will say that I had a moment during the show when it hit me: when I was a kid, growing up in that small town, one of the things I dreamed about was so simple: going to concerts. Something so simple, something I take for granted because it's such a routine thing in my life, and yet that was one of my childhood dreams. Wow. Dreams really do come true.

And right now, I'm dreaming about a shuffle. And dancing.

1. Comparison - Nina Simone
2. Dance Song '97 - Sleater-Kinney
3. Pounding - The Doves
4. Standing in the Shower Thinking - Jane's Addiction
5. The Day John Henry Died - Drive-By Truckers
6. No Expectations - Rolling Stones
7. At the Foot of Canal Street - Cowboy Mouth
8. Indianapolis - Bottle Rockets
9. Take Me Down to the Hospital - The Replacements
10. I'm a King Bee - Slim Harpo