May day and Thursday slump

It is a May day! It used to be a holiday back in USSR. When I was a small girl, we went to demonstrations on the first of May. We we dressed nicely, many people were holding flowers or little flags, and some were trusted to carry slogans. The idea was that we were demonstrating a) our solidarity with the oppressed laborers of the world and b) our full support and happiness with the Soviet power. The Soviet power was demonstrated a little later with a military parade, which followed the civilian demonstration. I just remember my silk dress, black and white, of which I was very proud, a heavy sweater on top of it, because it was chilly; I was sitting on my father's shoulders in the sea of live and fake flowers, slogans, balloons and peoples heads. The loudspeaker was yelling something like "Glory to the amazing achievements of the free and and peaceful republic of Uzbekistan" or some such. In addition to the loudspeaker there was deafening military orchestra playing patriotic music. This sea of people was slowly moving through the major streets of the city, and the culmination of the event occurred when we reached the main plaza, and moved next the the platforms with the Communist Party leaders, who standing there, perpetually smiling and waving to the crowds. After we passed the plaza, the crowds dispersed very quickly, leaving behind on the streets colorful bits of paper and dying flowers. That was my first recollection of the first of May demonstration. I was probably 3 or 4 at that time. All the other firsts of May fused in my memory into a blob of boredom and annoyance of the necessity to spend half of a perfectly wonderful day off on the streets instead of doing something worthwhile, like reading a book.
Here is an example of how it was. It is 1983, but over the years of soviet time the first of May demonstration was absolutely constant.



I skipped the practice today. I skipped it last Thursday, too, because of my birthday. I wonder now, is it something my body needs? Or am I being lazy? It is hard to distinguish between the two these day. I think I will go with the former for now, and contemplate it a little longer when I have time.
Happy Thursday, everyone!