This was Gay Pride Parade day in San Francisco. I usually find the parade fairly dull, even depressing, partly I suppose because it usually overcast at the end of June and it gets pretty cold standing there on Market Street as people representing every conceivable club and interest saunter past. But today was warm and sunny, and we had to get the car closer to the Bay Bridge in order to make it to Oakland in the afternoon, so I did not protest going to the parade.
Edie was a big hit with many of the spectators and marchers. As the day when on she accumulated more and more beads and other neck adornments until she looked quite festive indeed. She liked the attention, though she hated the sound of the motorcycles, and, to my great pride, seemed to really dislike the sound of disco. A couple people asked to get their pictures taken with her. We had to leave the parade early, and walked back through the staging area where everybody was waiting. This was probably the best part of all, not unlike walking down Orange Grove before the Rose Parade starts. No floats to admire, but people came up and wanted to pet Edie. She had her picture taken with some guy in a beagle outfit from the SPCA.
We actually had NO PROBLEM at all getting to Oakland, a huge difference from last night. We stopped by Trader Joe's in Emeryville to pick up some beer as Naida requested. I can't believe all the building that has taken place in this formerly industrial East Bay city. It's not particularly attractive, frankly - it looks a bit like the same kind of apartments and shopping malls that they also build cheaply in places on Oxnard or Covina - but it sure is different from the warehouses and factories that used to be there.
There were more people than usual at the party this year. I guess many were friends of friends. John's friend Dan came from Sacramento along with his friend Helen. The garden looked good, but not as stunning as it had in prior years. Edie and Canela got along a little better after some initial growls: Edie is pretty good about using playfulness to diffuse tension. She was a big hit with the party goers, particularly as she was still decked out in all her pride parade paraphernalia.
We left about six or so to drive up towards Sonoma County and Mike's place.
