On the 4th of July, we went to our neighbors’ house to have crepes at 8 am, before the big parade that goes near our house. Little did we comprehend that this parade was a very big deal in the lives of our fellow citizens. People had been aggressive and dedicated enough to camp out along the parade route up to four days in advance. I would take Chase out on walks and pass by families just sitting there, all day long, in order to reserve their apparently very coveted spots on the grass or sidewalk. On the day of the parade, we chuckled to find that we had a perfect view of this beloved parade, even though we joined in at the moment it began rather than several days prior. We watched this important parade for about 10 minutes, then decided to head home. I hope that, to those diehard fans, it was worth all the effort to have those extra coupons and candy chucked at them.