Deja-vu on Second Street

The Rodeo Parade on the second Saturday of June marks the beginning of summer activities in Livermore.

If it’s sunny and hot, I look for a shady spot to view the parade. The best locations are on Second Street, either between L and M Streets under the block-long sidewalk awning by Store, or at the corner of K Street in the shade of the . The Rodeo Parade is organized and operated by Livermore Rotary Club volunteers as a service to the community.

In addition to horses and riders, it is a chance for civic, community, and school groups to participate in this annual, moveable ‘show-n-tell’.  It’s a great entertainment and a chance to see-and-be-seen, whether you are in the parade or curbside.

For some families, attending the Rodeo Parade is not possible because of another Livermore tradition, . This family-owned and operated floral business was established in 1947. The second-generation owners, Bob and Cheryl
Rumberger were well aware of all of the happy reasons people buy flowers: romance, weddings, babies, and parties. They were also well aware of funerals and especially of untimely deaths.

In 1988, concerned about the risks of unsupervised graduation-night parties, and the unfortunate affects of alcohol, drugs, and driving, the Rumbergers hosted an all-night graduation party at their house. Word spread among parents how successful it was, so the following year both , and established the tradition of an all-night Grad Night held on campus. Every year since 1989, legions of parent volunteers have planned, organized, and corralled resources resulting in a party at the high schools with food, music, games, prizes, and activities.

As a parent of a high school senior graduating in 2012, it’s now my year to volunteer. I’m co-chair of the decorating committee for Granada High School’s Grad Night, one of the many committees that have been working together for months. All of the parent volunteers are creative, resourceful, and are utilizing skills that have been honed during our children’s K-12 educations.

This week we put our plans into action. Set-up at the school is Wednesday through Friday. Grad Night starts Friday at 10:30 pm and ends at 5 am. While the rest of Livermore is enjoying the Rodeo Parade on Saturday morning, there will be scores of high school graduates just settling into sleep, and a multitude of parent volunteers clearing out and cleaning the buildings. 

While preparing for Grad Night, I was reminded of my 1990 painting titled “Second Street Store Front”. I remember watching the Rodeo Parade, in the shade of the Wells Fargo Bank building. I enjoyed observing the morning sunlight on Knodt’s Flowers, across the street at their original location, 2074 Second Street.

A week or so later, I returned at the same time of day to sketch and paint “Street Storefront”. I placed the façade in the middle of my composition, knowing that the angled shadows created diagonal lines causing the viewer’s eye to move across the page.  The spring- green building was accented with the blue-green awning and matching trim at the top edge of the facade. The young street tree and the awning created a tiny respite from the morning glare of summer. 

While painting the details in the shaded windows, I was charmed by the display of the American flag and a yellow graduation cap and gown. The flag was to honor Flag Day, June 14th and upcoming the Independence Day in July. The cap and gown was to honor the graduating high school seniors. Knodt’s Flower’s
probably chose yellow as a compromise because they didn’t want to alienate any
potential customers: Livermore High’s colors are yellow and green; Granada
High’s colors are gold and black. 

Now, 22 years after noticing these details while painting “Second Street Storefront”, I am a part of the Grad Night tradition that the owners of Knodt’s Flowers had established!

And here’s something anyone can do: “Second Street Storefront” can be ‘read’ like a sun dial. If you watch the Rodeo Parade at the corner of Second and K Streets, or stop by any time mid-morning, during June, you could figure-out what time I painted it.