I drove through downtown Venice on Friday morning. In truth I drove around downtown because the actual downtown street was blocked off and filled with paving equipment. I drove past the brand new library which will open this week.
Several streets were lined with collapsed folding chairs and blankets spread out. I don't mean just a few here and there. The streets were lined end to end. People staking out their territory. Hmmm, must be a parade is scheduled for the afternoon?
Well, actually, the parade was scheduled for Saturday night at 7 o'clock. What? All the spaces taken by noon the day before? I don't get that compulsion.
Honestly, it is one of the reasons I avoid dinners and pot luck events at the park clubhouse. If the event starts at 5 or 6, everyone has rushed down by 10 a.m. to leave a sweater or some other demarcation -- "MY SPOT!"
Am I the only one who finds this vaguely hostile?
Several streets were lined with collapsed folding chairs and blankets spread out. I don't mean just a few here and there. The streets were lined end to end. People staking out their territory. Hmmm, must be a parade is scheduled for the afternoon?
Well, actually, the parade was scheduled for Saturday night at 7 o'clock. What? All the spaces taken by noon the day before? I don't get that compulsion.
Honestly, it is one of the reasons I avoid dinners and pot luck events at the park clubhouse. If the event starts at 5 or 6, everyone has rushed down by 10 a.m. to leave a sweater or some other demarcation -- "MY SPOT!"
Am I the only one who finds this vaguely hostile?
It's the same way in New Orleans for the Mardi Gras parades. We didn't do it, but many many did. If you wanted to have a ladder set up so your kids could sit up high in the front row, it was probably the only way. We just went and took our chances. Enjoyed it then... but no more. Too many people, too crowded... must be an age thing.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think it is obnoxious. I'd be tempted to go about 11 a.m. and move everything from the chairs. Probably wouldn't win me any friends. :)
ReplyDeleteAs for the parade, I would the city would stop that habit. Certainly seems like an opportunity for vandalism.
Eileen
I am surprised the unattended chairs on the street are not stolen. Both actions for the parade and dinners would keep me away.
ReplyDeleteThis is totally hostile. It reminds me of the beach at the resort we went to in the Dominican Republic. They'd park their towels there, and come and go. I loathe crowds, anyway.
ReplyDeletewell to be honest I don't understand a parade. It's people walking down the street. Why must I want to watch that? Anyhoo, yes it is a bit hostile and obnoxious. Give 'em my spot. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're back in Florida?!? Anyway ... the way I see it, either you like to get in and mix it up with the crowds, or you don't. I don't.
ReplyDeleteYep, slightly hostile. Especially the saving chairs at a sit down meal. I discovered this at a senior center when my mother was still alive. I found it very annoying.
ReplyDeleteSo you are in Florida for the winter. Enjoy the sunshine.
ReplyDeleteRoad blocks for parades drive me crazy especially when I didn't know or care about the parade.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be appropriate to sneak in the middle night and rearrange all these unattended territorial markers. Move the chairs several blocks from the original spot and then watch on the news about all the confusion it caused.
ReplyDeleteSame thing for the Rose Parade - have to go day before, camp out overnight. Only went once — took a bus the Parade morning with a group that had reserved bleacher seats at the almost end of the parade.
ReplyDelete