We enjoyed a small town Christmas parade last weekend. Did I enjoy it the way I swoon over a perfectly filled Chantilly cream eclair? Not exactly. Did I enjoy it the way I like the first twenty minutes of every parade I’ve ever watched? Why yes, yes I did, so there’s the win.

When we first claimed our spot on the sidewalk there was a small group of horses with people in full riding gear sitting perkily atop them waiting to begin the parade. It would have been a riveting sight if not for the group of fox hounds behind them.

There for all the world to see was a dozen hounds standing at attention with their leashes taut. Or was it fifteen? Twenty? I’m not sure, it felt like Christmas morning and my mind went blank. This may have been my favorite part of the parade altogether, staring at a stunning group of dogs with a big old grin plastered on my face. And then as one they all turned and came to sniff the grassy area right behind us.

Could the universe have sent a clearer sign?

One young man was endlessly kind as I turned around to meet the doggie wandering behind me. As I was oohing and ahhing a friend snapped what is the encapsulating shot of me at a parade: everyone around me smiling and laughing, then a view of my back as I love on a dog. Yep, that tracks.

The parade had all the usual suspects — high school cheerleaders and marching bands, local businesses, a couple of cars with public officials, clubs with adorable kids waving from a float. That sort of thing.

There was an interesting moment when I heard someone call out Happy Holidays! and thought oh that’s interesting, someone’s being inclusive at the Christmas parade…Happy Harley days. They were calling out Happy Harley days. Whoops. My bad.

Welcome to December, everyone. It’s the month that never ends yet is over in the blink of an eye.