Sunday, October 26, was a beautiful day with the sun shining brightly and the sky all kinds of bright blues. As I drove down to Charlotte Beach, I wondered exactly what a Love Parade would be like. Sgt Pepper's, the Magical Mystery Tour, a sing-along to "All You Need is Love" or something out of "Le Roi de Coeur" ("King of Hearts") came to mind. That would be fun!

The participants (about 40 or 50 of them) gathered in the parking lot by a school-bus yellow car. Balloons were being filled from a helium tank in the trunk. Someone was strumming a guitar while another played on a xylophone. (Which reminds me, next year I want to bring one of those kiddie ones that plays as you pull it. Maybe one of those popping ones, too.)

Some people were dressed up, although most weren't. There was a little girl dressed as an angel butterfly, a man wearing a purple and gold Cat-in-the-Hat hat, a couple guys dressed in painted coveralls, and various flowers in the hair, t-shirts with sayings, mementos of love, including a newspaper cutout of Greg Townson of the Hi-Risers. One woman carried an old pay phone so that you could call people and make amends or send them love messages. Paper hearts were given out, as were Dum Dum suckers. Oh, and there were donuts, always a good way to start any endeavor.

Beginning fashionably late, we made our way out the pier. Unfortunately, the grand marshals of the parade were not familiar with the saying "You can't hurry love." They walked the pier at what was more a sprint, with me and my companions -- one with a walker -- reaching the end just after the finale. Apparently, there were balloons released and some short speeches about how we should love each other and "we're all in this together" a la Ben Lee.

Other festivities included sidewalk chalk messages and paintings on the pseudo lighthouse. (Is that legal?)

OK, it was kinda corny, but it was fun. Actually, I think it could be way more fun next year once the word gets out and people get more into it. I didn't bring anything to it other than myself, but next year I'm bringing the aforementioned props. And everyone thought it was a great way to get outside, and go for a walk on the pier on such a beautiful day.

And really, there are way more silly things that we commemorate with parades. Love really is a worthy one.