Enchanting

en·chant vb 

To attract and delight

There was something comforting about Vernon's Winter Carnival street parade.  It was quaint and uncomplicated. It was not driven by computer wizardry or constantly flickering lights or noise.  Yet it managed to  hold the attention of even the youngest spectators for a good period of time.  What was it that compelled several thousand people to stand by the roadside, clapping and cheering as a myriad of floats drifted slowly by?  Perhaps it was the feeling of community pride one felt as they saw friends and family cruise past on elaborately decorated floats.  Or maybe it was also experiencing that feeling of enchantment that tends to allude us in our day to day lives.

In this age of wide-screen tv's, computers, iPads, smartphones, high speed internet, gaming, Facebook etc etc  we are bombarded with stimuli everywhere we go.   Sometimes it is nice to stop, slow down, smell the roses and get down off that crazy electronic buzz.  

That was what the parade was for me.  It was pure and simple fun.  It was a joy to see what people had created with their own hands and to view the sense of pride they had in their community. It was about people being with people, seeing their smiles first hand, hearing the cheers and muffled clapping through mittened hands. 

Oh yes and for the boys the parade was about receiving as much candy as they could stuff in their pockets!!!!!! Did it enchant them?  You betcha.