The 4th of July parade is a big deal for the East Kentwood Marching Band. It is an opportunity to make a visible splash in the community, for one. Show off the music, the marching, the camaraderie, the joie de vive that comes with being part of a company of talented performers. And it is also a recruiting device, intended to inspire younger generations of soon-to-be high schoolers in their pursuit of musical glory.
And sore feet.
This year was a particularly odd year for me due to the fact that there were three different groups vying for my attention in the parade. First and foremost was the Marching Band, because I am in charge of the Pit Crew and thus in charge of Transportation -- in this case, making sure that the big trailer was adequately staffed with a driver, and that the tractor/cart was there as well, providing a place for all our gear (water spritzers for the walkers, candy to hand out, first aid kit, etc.). Second was the church float which was advertising our upcoming VBS theme ("Mt Everest"). Third was the FIRST Robotics team float (Red Storm Robotics). I wanted to help out with all of them, but there was so much to do to prep for the Marching Band, it wasn't possible.
The parade didn't start til 9:30 a.m., but I had to be at the school by 7 to coordinate with the driver who was coming to pick up the trailer. Then I headed over to the staging area to finish decorating the cart with all kinds of patriotic fluff (flags, colored duct tape, etc.). And meet with the Marching Band to make sure they all had their instruments and things. Deb came over on her own and had everything she needed, but some of the kids had left their instruments in the trailer and needed to get them out. It was hustle and bustle for a while!
There was barely time enough to run over to the other floats to bestow my good wishes on them before suddenly it was 9:30 and time to start! The Band was number 5 in the lineup (out of approximately 35 floats) so we were right up at the front, stomping feet and blowing tunes and handing out candy and spraying the kids' faces with water to keep them from overheating in the blazing hot (not) sun.
The parade route was only a couple miles so it was over in less than an hour. But in that time, the kids were worn out and I was worn out, so after the parade was over and everything was put away, we all went home and took naps.
And slept soundly til nearly dinnertime!
And sore feet.
This year was a particularly odd year for me due to the fact that there were three different groups vying for my attention in the parade. First and foremost was the Marching Band, because I am in charge of the Pit Crew and thus in charge of Transportation -- in this case, making sure that the big trailer was adequately staffed with a driver, and that the tractor/cart was there as well, providing a place for all our gear (water spritzers for the walkers, candy to hand out, first aid kit, etc.). Second was the church float which was advertising our upcoming VBS theme ("Mt Everest"). Third was the FIRST Robotics team float (Red Storm Robotics). I wanted to help out with all of them, but there was so much to do to prep for the Marching Band, it wasn't possible.
The parade didn't start til 9:30 a.m., but I had to be at the school by 7 to coordinate with the driver who was coming to pick up the trailer. Then I headed over to the staging area to finish decorating the cart with all kinds of patriotic fluff (flags, colored duct tape, etc.). And meet with the Marching Band to make sure they all had their instruments and things. Deb came over on her own and had everything she needed, but some of the kids had left their instruments in the trailer and needed to get them out. It was hustle and bustle for a while!
There was barely time enough to run over to the other floats to bestow my good wishes on them before suddenly it was 9:30 and time to start! The Band was number 5 in the lineup (out of approximately 35 floats) so we were right up at the front, stomping feet and blowing tunes and handing out candy and spraying the kids' faces with water to keep them from overheating in the blazing hot (not) sun.
The parade route was only a couple miles so it was over in less than an hour. But in that time, the kids were worn out and I was worn out, so after the parade was over and everything was put away, we all went home and took naps.
And slept soundly til nearly dinnertime!