Parade-Day Preparations

Tuesday, July 02, 2019

If she’s going to march, she needs cleaning-up, I thought, picking up a shedding instrument and starting to work. My 18-year-old donkey, Pimmy, calmly chewed her hay dinner while I brushed. She doesn’t shed early as the horses, but does so a month or so later like now at the end of June or beginning of July.

She loves to roll in dirt and whatever else attracts her. Her longish tough-as-bear-hair coat captures everything. A pat on her back will release dust clouds that could make you sneeze. But she’s sweet and cute, you want to give her hugs. So, yesterday I brushed and combed, releasing dead coat enough to faux-build another donkey. As I expected, her shinier self slowly emerged.

Today, after another round of brushing, I’ll start arranging, on her, July 4th decorations and trying to put together “a look”. On Thursday, we will march in the annual Pet Parade, a mile-and-a-half through downtown’s major streets–along with many various animals (like horses, ponies, turtles, bunnies, snakes), and lining the route will be thousands of watching and cheering parents and kids. Last year, Pimmy marched in that parade for the first time and was a hit. This year, I want her better costumed.

Our artistic and talented friend Janet will participate. Her visions for costume-creations differ from mine. Janet goes all out. She’d sew for Pimmy something that reaches from head to tail and down her pasterns (ankles). Last Christmas, she created for Pimmy a spectacular outfit–a hit–that attracted attention and applause.

But I’m a simpleton decorator. My vision is to piece together items that look like July 4th, and logically affix them to Pimmy. Later today when Janet arrives and considers the patriotic look I’m creating, she might alter my efforts, but we’ll see.

I’d hoped this year to sit in a small cart while driving Pimmy through the streets, but didn’t get her trained. Driving remains the goal, but my work with horses gobbles up time and consumes energy. Meanwhile, a well-cared for donkey can live 40+ years, so there’s time. I’ll renew her training early next spring and in the next Pet Parade will be driving a well-turned-out donkey!

Dear Friends, There isn’t a cuter, sweeter, more fun pet than a domestic donkey. Diana