THE SOLSTICE

Everyone in this city is preoccupied with sunlight. Day in day out we are longing for those precious breaks from the rain and clouds and long winter nights.

Now is the time of the year when the sun goes down at 9:30 at night and comes up at 5 the next morning. In other words, time to celebrate! In my neighborhood, that means the Solstice Parade— it's not just a parade, it's the best parade in the world! Thousands of people come from all over the city to see it. Here’s a video so you get the idea.

Last year I watched the parade with the Poet’s son David, and we had a blast. I was going through my Lyme tendonitis at the time and hadn’t danced since January. I looked with envy at the dancers going by, but also with an eye of appraisal. Most of them were just so-so, I thought. Then at the end of the parade the samba dancers swished down the street, bursting with energy, all their steps in synch, their band playing to beat the band, everything about them just plain fabulous.

I had one desire at that moment: to be part of the samba dancers.

“If my legs get better in time,” I told myself, “I’m going to join that group and be in the parade.”

Here it is one year later, and I did it! I saw the parade this year from the inside, looking out at the spectators as I danced down the street, full of energy and moving in synch with all my samba buddies. I haven’t had so much fun since I don’t know when.

OK, one more video. It starts with some painted people on a float, then there's my dance group, Girasol. (If you look closely, you can see me.)

Photos courtesy of The Poet!