Our block

(from the 1st annual 28th Avenue Halloween parade, in 1994)

On Sunday the neighborhood held our 13th annual Halloween Parade. The hosts the the previous 12 years, the Andersons, moved away last year, so this time we were the site of the staging ground and the after parade party.

Our block does a Halloween parade, with live music, every year. In the summer we also have two block parties (one with a talent show). There's old time music jams in people's backyards and contra dances in the street. It is events like these that make it unlikely I'll ever move from this block. As the Block Captain this year, I feel a particular responsibility toward maintaining the sense of community that makes this street a special place to live. I know the names of everyone's kids, and most of their pets. I have seen kids grow from toddlers to teenagers.

One time the neighbor girl came by, she and her sister were baking. “Do you have any eggs?” she asked. “No, I'm afraid I don't, but I bet Sue next door does. They're not home, but here's the key.” It's that kind of neighborhood.

At the first Halloween parade there were mostly toddlers on the street. They're grown now, and the youngest were from new neighbors mostly. The teens from years past stood apart, not quite willing to be at the center of the scene, but not willing to not be a part of it either.

Here are two sets of pictures, one from this year's party, and a set from previous parades over the last 13 years.

The archive set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougplummer/sets/72157602819042298/

This year's parade: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougplummer/sets/72157602821202229/

(The 13th Annual 28th Avenue Halloween parade crew)

Comments

[Hannah]

Hello

I am contacting you because I am working with the authors of a book about blogs. I have seen a photograph of yours that I find interesting and would like to request permission to include it in this book. If you think this is something you might be interested in please send me an email at [email protected] and I will send along more details about the project. Hope to talk to you soon!

Sincerely,

Hannah
[email protected]

Note: In order to locate your image later it would be much appreciated if you would include a link to this blog in your response. Thanks again!!