A passerby asked me if I attended the parade because it is pretty, and I told him I attend it because I love the community participation. I also thanked my mother for taking me to our wonderful City festivals - Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo (back when we had that), Carnval, and PRIDE - throughout my childhood. It was not only fun, but it gave me a sense of community engagement and celebrating our many different backgrounds and communities TOGETHER that I love so much.
