By Pamela Dozois
Los Alamos residents once again took to the streets to participate in the “Cruise Los Alamos” car parade, in an effort to raise the spirits of all who are sequestered in their homes due to the Corona 19 virus. It was the brain-child of Michael Nicola.
Photos by Devyn Marseilles
A couple on their porch wearing masks and drinking wine cheered and waved at the passing parade.
“When Los Alamos first went on lockdown, I got the crazy idea one Friday night to just go out to my front yard, in the rain, open my car windows and just play joyful/loud music, classics like ‘Stayin Alive’ and ‘I will Survive’ and others, just for a few minutes,” said Nicola. “I posted about it the next day on Facebook, on Stay Connected Los Alamos, a group I had just started a few days prior. The next night there were a dozen of us on Facebook, so we planned another night of joyful music. But some felt it was too dangerous, even though we were nowhere near each other, so it was off to think of another way for us to do something together, yet separate and safe.”
“The following Saturday, March 28th, we did the first ‘Cruise Los Alamos’. There was an unexpectedly large turnout of cars all lined up on Bell Street. We took off and drove through town, music on, honking here and there, making a little mischief, and having fun,” explained Nicola. “We missed some streets and judging by the comments, calls and postings on the Stay Connected Los Alamos page, it was clear the interest was there to do it again, cover more areas which we did this past Saturday.”
About 30 cars had lined up along Bell Street by 5:30 p.m., some with a car load of family members all ready to begin the party. The parade began at 6 p.m. as the uninterrupted line of cars weaved its way through the streets of Los Alamos, visiting both sides of Bell Street, with music blaring, honking and waving to those who came out of their homes to participate.
“This time there were more cars, more people standing outside, cheering and waving from their balconies, some dressed in pajamas with glasses of wine in hand, others waving flags. Friends were inviting friends and, it looks like we will be doing this for a while, perhaps with a few changes to keep it interesting, but right now, ‘Cruising’ is a tonic we need here in Los Alamos,” said Nicola. “We leave fear and anxiety behind for an hour and see friends and neighbors, saying Hi! from a safe distance. It just feels good,’
