Day 3

Party’s over. First day back to school after the holiday break. Back to the alarm going off at an ungodly 5:30am. I’ve set my phone to wake us up. My internal clock has yet to adjust to Olivia’s new school schedule. She has to be at the bus stop by 6:42am. The clock next to our bed is set 8 mins. ahead. Why? I don’t know, but for some reason is works for me.

Day 2, 2012

Today is Loverman’s birthday and to celebrate we headed to the movie theater with the kids, and my inlaws. The kids are finally at an age where we can trust them to check out an age-appropriate flick in one theater, while we’re seeing something more of our liking in another. Today they saw Hugo and the four adults saw Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (loved it!). Hugo ended about 10 mins before our film did and when our film finished, we headed out of our theater and they greeted us with these great photos they’d taken in a photo booth in the lobby.

It’s amazing. Earlier this morning they were at each other’s throat for some perceived insult, and now we have evidence of the two of them actually enjoying each other’s company. Priceless.

Day 1, 2012

Day 1
New Year’s Day 2012 In Philly also marks the 111^th anniversary of the Mummer’s Day Parade. I took this photo of a Mummer and his sons as they exited the parade route. 


Mummers are costumed entertainers welcoming in the New Year. Some of the earliest mummers date back to early Egypt, pagan Rome and Greece, England, Germany, and France.   Some say the tradition of Mummery began in Philadelphia as early as the 17^th century, but the city-sponsored parade didn’t begin until Jan. 1, 1901.


Growing up, I had nothing but disdain for the Mummers because until 1964 Blacks were banned from participating and many of the clubs appeared in blackface. They just looked like a bunch of drunken racists dressed in outlandish costumes, playing music of which I had no interest and tying up traffic along major Center City arteries.   My grandmother, Nina, would ask me to sit with her on New Year’s Day and watch the string band competition.  I usually did so begrudgingly.
The last few years, the Mummers have struggled to maintain funding for their annual strut down Broad St. Private donors and city officials partnered with the mummers to address the budget shortfall and the mummers haven’t missed a beat.
Now that I’m older, my dislike for the Mummers has begun to wane.   It’s simply not my cup of tea, but for many families in the region it’s part of their family’s legacy and much more than a parade or a late night party on 2 Street.  In fact, in this respect it’s not unlike the annual Odunde Festival.  


Odunde is one of the oldest and largest street festivals in the country, celebrates the West African New Year and draws folks from Philly, NYC, Delaware and D.C.  It’s held the second Sunday of June along South St. and Grays Ferry Avenue.  The festival route is a mix of gentrified brownstones, million dollar condos and a historically African American neighborhood. For me, Odunde is the unofficial kick-off of the summer season and an opportunity to reconnect with old friends.
Although Odunde welcomes everyone, the vibe is definitely one which celebrates Black folks, and I guess, I just never felt like I’d feel welcome at the Mummer’s Day Parade, but that may only be my assumption, since I’ve never had the inclination to check it out in person.  I can and do appreciate its rich tradition.