In our vocabulary, we have little phrases that pop up every once in a while. They are intended to guide us, inspire us. So when a few of them popped up in the space of a couple of hours, I took that as a sign.
First, “nobody is going to rain on my parade.” Well, it did rain on the 90th annual May Day parade and that’s something we’ve almost come to expect. Getting ready for the parade, the spirits were high. Kids were singing on the floats; people were laughing trying to keep displays dry, and the crowd along the parade route was as big and boisterous as ever.
We drove the route past a rainbow of umbrellas, rain slickers and headgear. People cheered and clapped and the rain seemed to have been scared off for an hour. When we make plans for anything in our life, we have to expect some adversity. But adding laughter and colour, and gathering together, makes a big difference to any situation.
Next, “it was all fun until the wheels fell off the cart.” The donkey cart in the parade had only gone a block or two until a wheel did fall off the cart. There is no parade contingency for something like this, but when the wheels fall off your cart you have two choices. You can sit on the curb with your head in your hands saying “Why me?” You can hold up everybody else’s parade, or you can ask for help, pick up the pieces, wave and smile, get your ass in gear and get moving.
You might reach your destination a little later and a bit beaten up, but you’ll finish. Good times or bad times never last forever and some days, despite the best planning, the wheels will fall off your cart.
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” As soon as the parade was over, the vast majority headed home, leaving a lot of food vendors with hot dogs, roasted chickens, pastries and lemonade ready to be consumed with no customers.
Two young ladies at a commercial lemonade stand had very few customers on a cold, wet day, but they kept making lemonade, and smiled with each glass sold and laughed and joked in the shelter of their kiosk. The other vendors made sure that when customers did come, they got hot fresh food and a smile. Maybe they didn’t make as much for their charity today, but there would be other days, other events.
When the lady was packing up the lemonade stand, there was no grumbling. It was the first day for the two young ladies and she was happy it wasn’t too busy for them on the first time out, as they had a lot of bookings for the summer. Sweet lemonade goes down easier than sour.
“Sing as if nobody’s listening,” Mark Twain told us. As I was walking across the park to get my truck, most of the people had left. On the stage one young girl was at the mike belting out a song to six people, three of whom I suspect were relatives. She was singing as if she had an audience of thousands. We never know who might need our song, our piano tune, our words. Our most important audience might be one person.
It’s amazing what you can see standing quietly under an umbrella. At least that’s what McGregor says.