Poodle Skirts and Pool Noodles

We've had a fun few weeks.  We were told that the park routinely enters a float in the annual Citrus Fiesta parade which is a big deal in these parts.  Last year's float took first place, so there was some pressure to keep the flag up.  Jackie was especially eager to work on the committee since she a) has never been to a parade and b)has never seen a float.  It's one of the hazards of being the youngest in a large family - by the time she came along, our parents were so over the whole child enrichment thing that she kind of missed out.  So, naturally, she was happy to accept the nomination to be chairperson of the float committee.  If you're gonna go, go BIG!  If the darn meetings weren't so early in the morning, I would have helped too but no amount of fruit juice is going to get me out of bed before 9 a.m.

The theme was "Old Time Rock 'N Roll" and, of course, citrus.  At least two thirds of the float had to be covered in citrus fruit.  This might explain why there are so many citrus trees around here - certainly no one ever seems to eat any.   It never occurred to me that they might actually be for construction materials.


At any rate, last Friday a bunch of us arrived at the float to start assembling the displays. Ten hours and 4,000 screws later and the float was ready.  It was amazing!  It was a 50s diner scene complete with jukebox that was crafted out of plywood and pool noodles.  Someone even made giant papier mache saddle shoes.  Our Park King and Queen dressed up in 50s gear and the truck drivers dressed as soda jerks.  Jackie did a great job in keeping everyone focused (try getting a bunch of old people to do what you tell 'em to do - it's like herding cats!)



Long story short.... the float took first place in its category!  Woohooo.....way to go Jackie!

The parade must have pleased the weather gods because we've had 2 weeks of reasonably warm weather.  For the first time in two months, we can actually see sunshine.  Those jukebox pool noodles are going to come in handy, propping up all the retirees bobbing in the pool.  That's another phenomenon - no one swims....they just bob.  Must be a Texas thing.