The tire business was in San Pablo, about 10 miles from my home, but I decided to treat it as if it was far away. I needed to get two new tires for my eight year old '90 Isuzu Trooper, and I wanted to wait the four hours for them to be installed so I could have some time to myself.
I left the car at the tire place, and ventured out into the.......what I hadn't planned for......
The mall around the area was tired, worn out, and most of the businesses were closed.
Walking around the few businesses that were hanging on, I noticed a travel agent's shop, and stopped to peer at the dreams portrayed on the faded posters in the window.
Surprisingly, in that lonely place, a cable car pulled up, a conductor jumped off, tipped his cap at me, and walked in the door to talk to a man inside. He talked for a few moments, and then both of them came out so he could show his friend his mode of transportation, his new job. I joined the travel agent in marveling over the shiny maroon and wood San Francisco cable car on wheels. Darrin the driver was to drive the cable car in a parade that day. We all ended up talking and once they found out I had time on my hands, it was suggested that I hop on the front of the car and accompany him. Perhaps I hadn't had much excitement in my life, and this seemed like such an unusual adventure, I said, "Why not?!
Leaving the travel agent to his business, we clanged our way out of the empty parking lot, and drove on to Hiway 80 freeway. The wind whipped through my hair, and I was having second thoughts about taking off with this stranger, when we got off at the next exit, at San Pablo Dam Road. Darrin said, "We're supposed to turn right here and go in to the shopping center." I held on to the brass pole, as the big cable car lumbered on it's soft tires into the driveway, rocking me as if I were riding an elephant. Instead of parking, we headed around the back of the Payless Drug Store, where I found that we were supposed to take our place in line.
Darrin jumped off, saying he'd be right back, while I took in the spectacle.
Stretched along the back of the shopping mall, were cheer leaders, flag girls, caballeros on horseback, a marching band tuning up, a spiffy pink convertible, some clowns and a man on stilts, to name a few. Darrin came running back, saying,"We're kinda late, we'll pull up a little and get our people." He handed me a red ribbon to pin on my sweater that said "Participant", saying, "If anyone asks what you're doing here, just say you're with me."
He slowly pulled forward alongside each group, calling out to the scouts, "On your right!", and being careful not to clang his bell and spook the horses. He pulled us into place behind the marching band, and waved some folks over, brightly dressed in traditional Mexican clothing: the men with big sombreros and women with colorful peasant tops and skirts, all with banners across their chests. Some said "San Pablo, Our Sister City", and others had the name of their city, "San Manzanillo, Mexico" emblazoned across their front. They climbed aboard, shyly nodding and smiling to me, I suppose wondering what this gringo was doing on their cable car! I smiled back, saying "Hola" or "Buenos dias", the best I could do at the time.
This group including the mayor, had been brought in from San Pablo's sister city in Mexico to ride in the parade. Everyone filed in and sat down and we started to slowly move forward as the bass drum and snare drums started to give us a beat. We moved along the back side of the mall, band in front of us, horses behind, and the man on stilts coming along side.
I couldn't believe this was happening. As we came out on to San Pablo Ave, there were people, whole families, sitting at the edge of the sidewalk. They were waving flags and clapping to the beat of the marching band. I found myself getting a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat as I heard the bass drum beating right in front of us. (For some reason that happens when I see a parade.) It was as if it was the 4th of July, only it wasn't. It was the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the birth of the city of San Pablo. ....and I was suddenly part of it. Serapes and all.
All of us on the cable car waved at the folks at the curb. Sure, I looked a little bit out of place, but I smiled and did a little side-to-side wave as if I were the Queen of England. And, remember, I DID have a "Participant" ribbon.
I left the car at the tire place, and ventured out into the.......what I hadn't planned for......
The mall around the area was tired, worn out, and most of the businesses were closed.
Walking around the few businesses that were hanging on, I noticed a travel agent's shop, and stopped to peer at the dreams portrayed on the faded posters in the window.
Surprisingly, in that lonely place, a cable car pulled up, a conductor jumped off, tipped his cap at me, and walked in the door to talk to a man inside. He talked for a few moments, and then both of them came out so he could show his friend his mode of transportation, his new job. I joined the travel agent in marveling over the shiny maroon and wood San Francisco cable car on wheels. Darrin the driver was to drive the cable car in a parade that day. We all ended up talking and once they found out I had time on my hands, it was suggested that I hop on the front of the car and accompany him. Perhaps I hadn't had much excitement in my life, and this seemed like such an unusual adventure, I said, "Why not?!
Leaving the travel agent to his business, we clanged our way out of the empty parking lot, and drove on to Hiway 80 freeway. The wind whipped through my hair, and I was having second thoughts about taking off with this stranger, when we got off at the next exit, at San Pablo Dam Road. Darrin said, "We're supposed to turn right here and go in to the shopping center." I held on to the brass pole, as the big cable car lumbered on it's soft tires into the driveway, rocking me as if I were riding an elephant. Instead of parking, we headed around the back of the Payless Drug Store, where I found that we were supposed to take our place in line.
Darrin jumped off, saying he'd be right back, while I took in the spectacle.
Stretched along the back of the shopping mall, were cheer leaders, flag girls, caballeros on horseback, a marching band tuning up, a spiffy pink convertible, some clowns and a man on stilts, to name a few. Darrin came running back, saying,"We're kinda late, we'll pull up a little and get our people." He handed me a red ribbon to pin on my sweater that said "Participant", saying, "If anyone asks what you're doing here, just say you're with me."
He slowly pulled forward alongside each group, calling out to the scouts, "On your right!", and being careful not to clang his bell and spook the horses. He pulled us into place behind the marching band, and waved some folks over, brightly dressed in traditional Mexican clothing: the men with big sombreros and women with colorful peasant tops and skirts, all with banners across their chests. Some said "San Pablo, Our Sister City", and others had the name of their city, "San Manzanillo, Mexico" emblazoned across their front. They climbed aboard, shyly nodding and smiling to me, I suppose wondering what this gringo was doing on their cable car! I smiled back, saying "Hola" or "Buenos dias", the best I could do at the time.
This group including the mayor, had been brought in from San Pablo's sister city in Mexico to ride in the parade. Everyone filed in and sat down and we started to slowly move forward as the bass drum and snare drums started to give us a beat. We moved along the back side of the mall, band in front of us, horses behind, and the man on stilts coming along side.
I couldn't believe this was happening. As we came out on to San Pablo Ave, there were people, whole families, sitting at the edge of the sidewalk. They were waving flags and clapping to the beat of the marching band. I found myself getting a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat as I heard the bass drum beating right in front of us. (For some reason that happens when I see a parade.) It was as if it was the 4th of July, only it wasn't. It was the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the birth of the city of San Pablo. ....and I was suddenly part of it. Serapes and all.
All of us on the cable car waved at the folks at the curb. Sure, I looked a little bit out of place, but I smiled and did a little side-to-side wave as if I were the Queen of England. And, remember, I DID have a "Participant" ribbon.
