Being A Strawberry Festival Parade Celebrity Was Berry Fun!

The photo above (taken by Michael David) features my wife April in the front passenger seat (next to our friendly and capable driver Scott) and yours truly in the back, "K-WAVE's own John Watanabe...one of the celebrities riding in the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Parade on May 24th at 10am!", as mentioned for weeks on the website for my full-time on-air radio home during the last 14 years, KWVE/"K-WAVE" Christian Radio, FM 107.9 & AM 1110/Los Angeles.  

Almost every year, going back to 2012, April & I made appearances at the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival via the K-WAVE radio booth (under a tent, next to other festival sponsors and vendors), but this year, in what was our final Garden Grove Strawberry Festival appearance (more on that down the road, as our retirement plans draw near), thank God that April & I really went out with a bang, by being featured in the festival's parade and other events involving me being chosen this year as one of the festival's celebrities (thanks to the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association Board of Directors).

While waving an American flag in one hand and waving to parade attendees with my other hand, I must admit that it was exciting to hear some folks cheering and screaming "John!" and "K-WAVE!", an excitement that is similar to those of us who have worked in pro wrestling arenas. I know that the grass withers and the flowers fade and that only the Word of God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8, 1 Peter 1:24-25), but as I give thanks to God for every good gift, I'll enjoy this flower before it fades.

At one point, while our open-air BMW car (with my name on a poster attached on both sides of the car) made one of its brief pauses during the parade, a young female reporter with a microphone in her hand came up alongside me and wanted me to say a few words. As she pointed her microphone toward me, with a cameraman near her, I said, "I thank God for everything, I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His free gift of salvation, and I'm thankful that I get to spread joy here in Garden Grove!"

I don't know who this reporter was or what media outlet she's from, and I don't know if my quote made it on a live feed or will be used in some other way, but at least what I said was heard by this reporter and others within this reporter's earshot, and God says that His Word that proceeds from His mouth will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish whatever He pleases, and it will prosper wherever He sends it (Isaiah 55:11)!

I plan to write more blog posts here about my involvement this year at the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival and feature more photos from this event, but if the Lord returns before that can happen, I'm more than good with that (although I must say that the Strawberry Festival was again berry good)!