Riding the Pink Pig

Christmas* is a time for family and tradition. We took part in both last week. Zeke, my mom and I all went to ride the Macy's Pink Pig, a 50 year old Atlanta tradition. I will say it was fun to do something seasonal together before my mom returned home to Florida this weekend. (I tried to reschedule our upcoming visit with Santa -- remember Santa takes appointments around here -- but with no luck.) Zeke also likes anything with wheels that moves around, even if it is shaped like a pig and has a loud Southern accent, so it was a big hit with him. He was so sad sounding when we got off. With a frown, he gave a perfectly plaintive "choo choo".

I'm going to go ahead and say it, though, and I'm prepared to have my Atlanta residency revoked for my heresy. It was weird. The ride used to be based around giving riders a view of downtown or the Festival of Trees. Now it is a ride about the ride. Frankly, I think it is a little too meta for mommy and me time. You take two quick circuits around a tent in the mall parking lot and a very loud, very Southern pig named Priscilla narrates the story of the Pink Pink. Why not make it a ride with Christmas scenes? I'm a humanist/heathen, but even I was a little quizzical when Priscilla yells, "Merry Christmas!! Happy Hannukah!! Happy Kwaanza!! Happy Winter Solstice!!" or something very close to that effect. I don't know, I still am not quite sure I heard that right.

Here is the smiling evidence that we participated in this Atlanta tradition!


*By the way, did you know it is already Christmas time? The season officially starts November 1 before you even can finish the Halloween candy your toddler collected from your neighbors for you.