The Parade only a Hurricane can orchestrate

I watched parades all my life. Growing up in West Texas, we had a 4th of July Parade and my band often marched in it. Later on in life, we lived in a place that had their big parade at Saint Patrick's Day. In Abilene, any good occasion was a reason for a parade. So we had a Veteran's Day parade, a Stock Show parade, a 4th of July parade and a Christmas parade to name just the obvious.

But it took moving to Livingston and living through a hurricane to see the parades I saw these last few days. First, there was the parade of cars coming from the coast in preparation for Gustov. Then there was the parade of cars going the opposite way with folks frustrated by the close call and the expense of evacuating for no good reason.

Then came Ike. Parade going up the state and parade going home to some of the evacuated places. The damage from Ike is so extensive, some are not allowed home.

The best parade was the blinking yellow lights that adorned the multitude of energy companies dispatched to the area to restore power. I have never seen so many power company trucks and tree removal trucks as inundated our area. People were pulling over and applauding as they passed like proud troops in formation marching in a Veterans Day festival. Thursday evening, I was out late in the afternoon and the guys were calling it a day. It was about seven and the sun was beginning it nightly ritual of slow descent. And moving into town was a convoy of over 30 trucks amber lights blinking coming in as from a battle.

For many in this region, amber is the color of hope, and the sound of a diesel truck the sounds of hope.

Thanks to all the men and women who moved in and put us back into light.