The Bygone Parade

The Bygone Brigade

Theaters and Popcorn Machines. Tessla Coils and Waffle Irons .. what do they have to do with Planetariums? Everything and nothing... they do far different things, or do they? Picture a fantasy parade .. all of humanity's creations perhaps marching down Pasadena Blvd .. the Rose Parade of Progress.. there are people in the crowd that appreciate the basics .. they applaud Alec ... Alec-tricity... they applaud Steam.. and King Coal .. and Iron and the older crowd (much older) digs Bronze .. the Romans are out in force for Marble.. why arent marbles made of marble, or were they? In our parade of the Progress. many in the crowd squeal approval for Henry Ford.. Thomas Edison .. Einstein .. Michelangelo . All inventions parade down the boulevard, but there are a few in the huddled masses that look for stranger marchers ... here they come! Dumb-bell shaped Star Machines! They roll on carriages, they lead a strange menagerie of zoolike machines that most people know but few .. appreciate ... Carmel Apple makers .. Sno Coners.. Cotton Candy Blowers .. and here come the carnival rides ... A Tilt a Whirl rolls by .. Ferris Wheels also careen down the boulevard .. and bringing up the rear a literal zoo of yard sale refugees... Wood burning kits .. Bedazzlers .. a Slide Rule Marching Band, followed closely by a band of all the instruments nobody plays .. Bass Flutes and Clarinets .. Saxophones and Sousaphones, neither of which make calls as phones normally do .. And so the parade passes .. the icons of progress .. the staples of every era of life .. and lastly the bygone brigade.. planetariums .. phone booths .. ringer washers .. hand cranked pencil sharpeners .. model trains of all gauges

At last the Icons and the Bygones have passed .. the crowd fills the streets behind it as it passes .. wondering what next will join the neverending march. And wondering what is now among us that we cant see .. we take for granted .. that tomorrow will suddenly turn charming, and join the Brigade.