as an americorp member and food bank employee, i walked in the Springville parade. pepsi is a proud supporter and generous donator for Community Actions. i was all excited to walk and pass out candy and give pepsi shirts out and do the whole parade thing. i came out of that experience with a few other thoughts. i got the job of passing out stickers along with candy. i was literally malled by small children, big children, teenagers, adults, grandmas, the works. the only thing i was passing out was a lousy pepsi sticker that would probably be left on the shirt and sent through the wash resulting in a frustrating scrub at the sticky mess. Also, whatever happened to not taking candy from strangers. These children were literally begging me, someone they have never met, for a sweet treat. I felt so bad when I threw the candy on the ground and all the children scrambled to secure a piece. I don't know if this is just me but I was seriously worried about what kind of social norms we are teaching our children at events like these. As I described my concerns to my mother she replied, " you did the same thing when you were little and you turned out fine...." I guess I did turn out all right. What in my life made me stop to analyze this scene before me? I don't have the answers and I am still in quandary as to my true feelings about parades but as I promised to walk in a few more this summer I hope I can become less disturbed by a summer tradition.
xo
P.S. The saltwater taffy was very delicious if I do say so myself...
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