We all gain independence from someone...

Wednesday I scooted out of work about 20 minutes early so I could go to the Norwegian Constitution Day celebrated in my lovely neighborhood of Ballard (I did tell you all the Seattle was formerly a sleepy fishing village). Syttende Mai celebrates Norway's independence from Sweden (damn them). Who doesn't love a parade? They throw candy at the children who scramble after it like a cat after fish; you get to hear the school bands and see your neighbors who you haven't seen all winter. (A lot of people poop-pooped the parade when I was trying to find someone to go with me, but it was completely their loss.)

The parade started at 6 p.m. with the Seattle Police Department motorcycle drill team doing tricks on their bikes, followed by the Ballard Highschool Marching Band and Drill Team. The sun was shining (in your eyes) as it was nearly 85 degrees out. I was standing next to this Ethopian man and his two children - his son dancing and completely into the parade; the younger daughter was begging to go to the library (that was funny).

There were children on unicycles and kids jumping jump ropes. There were middle school bands and drill teams from as far south at Olympia (85 miles away) and as far north as British Columbia (150+ miles). There were the Seattle Public Library employees pushing their red shelving carts in loops much like the motorcycle drill team. There was every possible Sons/Daughter of Norway club represented by mostly elderly women and men and their little grandchildren.

Little blond haired girls ran around in traditional costume while the Greenwood Middle drill team, without a blond hair among them, performed down the street. Seven foot Vikings (very tall men) and tiny children tolls were sprinkled between bands. There was a young man who was a part of high school drill team - with shorts instead of a skirt, no tassels on his boots, very proudly performing with the rest of the group (and this quite honestly nearly made me cry.) There was a parade of classic cars with nearly classic people driving them. There were Viking boats floats that had smoke (pressurized oxygen) fire out of their noses and a Olympic View Middle School had the largest marching band I've ever seen with the most enthusiasm ever - with girls awkwardly tall and boys awkwardly short. Spanish sword performers, Leif Eriksen lodges, dogs on leashes and children too (but not on leashes).

One of the things that struck me were the drill team costumes - all of them had some kind of fancy hat - cowboy like hats, sailor type hats - boots with tassels and stiff polyester skirts. Swedish Hospital gave out Swedish fish (yum) and frisbees (fun). There was a small group of Norwegian women carrying signs that said "Immigration rights are human rights." And though it was the Norwegian parade - the variety of people and families just made you so happy that all of these people had come out to help them celebrate their independence which seems to be a running theme in history.