Kazoo Lessons

I’ve always loved parades. When I was a kid on Martha’s Vineyard … there was a huge 4th of July parade every year. It was on old-fashioned, small town event, with kids riding bikes decorated with red white and blue streamers and crepe paper parade floats built on the back of pickup trucks. I remember watching it when I was very small … something about the drum corps and marching bands, people in costume, and the pageantry of it all has always been fascinating and oddly emotional for me.

My father was often in the parade, and when I was old enough, about 8 or 9 years old, I started marching as well. Over the years I joined different contingents … usually music or theater related, save for a brief aberration one summer when I was a majorette, complete with sneaker pom-poms, and sparkly ribbon pigtails.

The best year was when my friend Robin and I were teenagers. We decided to crash the parade, and form our own 'unofficial' contingent, marching as clowns.

Joining the parade was remarkably easy … we borrowed costumes from the local theater costume barn, found some clown make-up and spent a couple of afternoons putting together some clowning/comedy skits. Mom dropped us at the Edgartown Elementary School parking lot that morning with all the other parade folk, and we simply looked for a place where we could fit in.

If I’d been alone I’d never have just strolled down to where the parade starts and planted myself … ready to march. I'd never have been that bold. Plus I'm pretty sure there’s a whole system of permission that's supposed to be required.

As a kid … with a buddy who thought it was a great idea … who was willing to share the risk … crashing the 4th of July Parade seemed perfectly natural. Permission wasn’t even a factor. It never occurred to us that we wouldn’t be able to march in the parade.

But the best part is what happened when we lined up in the 'unofficial' contingent section.

The parade organizers lined the sections up and snaked them around the parking lot and out into the neighborhood. The group in front of us was also unofficial. They appeared to be ‘revelers’ who’d decided that since the parade couldn’t come to their party … they’d simply bring their party to the parade.

Their group started with about seven people, with more joining all the time. They ranged in age from pre-teen to mid-50’s. Their secret, and the method to their madness, in additional to their contagious laughter … was that they’d brought with them big bag filled with plastic kazoos, plenty to share with anyone who wanted to join.

Thus they formed an impromptu … and ever-growing Kazoo Band.

Robin and I accepted the proferred kazoos gladly ... and we spent the time waiting for the parade to start, laughing and rehearsing our Kazoo Band repertoire.

In hindsight, the moment seems magical in a way I didn’t realize at the time. It’s exactly the kind of community and collaboration that I love and look for … spontaneous … inclusive … and fun. The kind with very low risk and very high reward. As a kid, these opportunities seemed plentiful. There always seemed to be someone who was willing to ‘play’ … someone to co-create and share the idea, and help hold the space for the possibilities. I didn’t realize this wouldn’t necessarily continue in adulthood.

So now, it’s what I do. Intentionally. Whether it's a full blown coaching group or a casual conversation, you can count on me be willing to 'play.' The next step is up to you. And when you're ready to join me ... I'm pretty easy to find.

I'll be the one holding the big bag of Kazoos.

© 2004. All rights reserved. Beth M. Lyons, www.kitchentablecoaching.com

About the author: In addition to wringing ezine essays out of the tiniest of notions, Beth Lyons is the creator of the Million Dollar Life™ Coaching program, and co-founder of Kitchen Table Coaching™: where remarkable women gather to dream out loud. Kitchen Table Coaching offers mastermind coaching groups, individual, customized coaching programs, Barbara Sher Success Teams, Teleclass Workshops, Webinars, and the occasional live workshop. For more information go to www.KitchenTableCoaching.com.

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