The first Tuesday in June has always been the Dairy Parade here in town. Two of my sisters, Sam and Kate, showed up at my apartment by 4:30, and we headed out a little after 5:00. We grabbed the stroller, strapped Becca’s monkey backpack/leash contraption, and off we went.
We walked down to the end of the block, about five or six houses, with big yards, away. Becca was walking along, thrilled to be out and about. We moved to the side when a biker went past, and looked back to see two little kids running down the sidewalk, and out into the road. The kids were 2-3 years old, a little boy and girl. Cars were swerving to miss them, and honking. I handed Becca off to Sam, and Katie and I ran after the kids. We got them out of the road, and onto the sidewalk. They couldn’t tell us where their parents are. We stood there with them for a few minutes, trying to find their parents. And then the kids took off up the street again, going the opposite way. Katie took off after them, Sam handed Becca to me, and grabbed her phone to call 911. As far as we knew, these kids were running around by their own, and their parents were probably frantic somewhere. Sam ran down the street after the kids and Katie, while I wrangled with Becca, the stroller, and everything else. Several houses down, two women came running out, searching for the kids. We let the 911 operator know that we had found their mom, but the operator told us to stay there. The mom (and I’m assuming grandmother) went back to where they were staying before the parade (with some of the people who live in the building behind us). We waited out front for the police. 20 minutes later, the cops still hadn’t shown up. Several cars had driven past, but no one actually pulled over to check the situation out.
The mom, grandmother, and two kids came back out with strollers, and we decided to walk down to the parade to find a police officer. The mom said that they had let the kids play in a small yard near the house, they turned around for 3 seconds, and the kids were gone.I don’t think they appreciated our call to the police.
I know kids can move fast, but not that fast. Not down the block several houses before you realize they were gone. These kids were in the road, we waited, there were no parents around, so we called the police. If Becca went missing, and someone found her, I would hope someone would call, because I would probably be frantic.
We walked all together down to the parade, planning on finding a cop down there. When we do, we learn that the 911 operator never let the police department know that there was a problem. Us talking to them was the first they had heard of it. Everything turned out fine, the cops didn’t give the woman the stern talking-to that I thought she deserved. But hopefully, this scared her enough that it doesn’t happen again.
My sisters, Becca, and I headed down to rent a few movies, and Becca got to pet a donkey. Katie went off with some friends, and Sam and I sat down with Becca next to a family friend. Turns out that Becca is a candy magnet. Everyone was tossing candy at her. She danced around for each marching band, got really excited over all of the big trucks. She had so much fun. There is a fair, and another parade, this weekend for the fireman’s field days. I have some pictures that I’ll put in the gallery later.
Oh, and the new theme is up. What do you think? I still have a little tweaking to do, but I think it’s close to being finished.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I love dairy parade. And Becca had such a good time. How was that milk, btw? Was it good? And I like the new theme.
Sam- the milk tasted just like chocolate milk. Just a little less processed. But I really couldn’t taste any big difference between the organic and the regular. It’s still milk.