Call it Plan B. Call it going right when things go wrong. Call it making lemonade when issued lemons. Much of redirecting energies to an improved state or a positive ending is what many do in the situation altered by COVID-19.
The 2020 school graduates, at any level, have been blessed to remember their final years in school with the variation and changes they have incurred. They have not been forced to accept expectations of the usual proms, picnics, or pomp and….No, the graduates have been forced to forego cap and gowns. No staid expectations will be fulfilled. Memories will be filled with withstanding, change, and reasons in the future to say, “Why, in my day….”
Nonetheless, there have been many efforts by adults, sponsors, schools, benefactors to help soothe disappointments. Car parades have been the least invasive in deference to COVID-19 in an effort to maintain good health. We can wear masks. The Voice recently ran photos of school car parades in Plano and in the West Aurora High School area.
Now comes a graduation unity car parade on the East Side of Aurora, Sunday, June 28. The unified community effort is open to any school graduate at any level who has been graduated in 2020 and would like to be a part of a memorable car parade.
Community organizer Mary Fultz has made an open invitation to all graduates, however, it is especially aimed at those from the East Aurora School District who have not been in a car parade. “….Unified effort with collaboration from both parents and youth together formed a bond of love in the midst of a pandemic,” she wrote. “With all the protest rallies and COVID-19 shelter in place, the kids deserve to be honored for their hard work and accomplishment.” She has organized for cars to start lining up at 1:15 p.m. in the East Aurora High School parking lot and the parade will start promptly at 2 p.m., go east on Fifth Avenue, south on Smith Boulevard, go right at the Y on Wyeth Drive through Phillips Park to Parker Street, and disperse. It will be memorable. Participants may decorate their cars. There will be surprises.
• Duly noted: Aurora Farmer’s Market will open its 108th season at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 27; Geneva’s Arts Fair has been canceled, however, 26 of the juried artists will have their works on display in July throughout locations in Geneva; Reuland Food Service will have a fundraiser Saturday to help food pantries in Aurora; and the VFW in Sandwich will hold a pork chip dinner drive-thru, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday for $13..
Clear and concise, week 25
• More words which are nouns we should learn to use as nouns and not as verbs, unfortunately a mistake all too common: Access, transition, chronicle.
• When using the word area, always use a descriptive adjective such as Fox Valley River area, DuPage River area, or Chicago area.
• A First Amendment protest is valid and should not be confused with ugly rioting The twain never should meet, nor, be lacking in understanding.