Everyone Loves A Parade

What a morning I have had already! I just returned from helping some of our senior residents at the Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Parade. The day started out beautiful, sunny, mild temperatures. Not many snags in the whole scheme of things. After all, one flat tire is really nothing to make a big deal about....even if it is on the float.
Actually, we must be very blessed! The float arrived just in time, the residents were placed upon the float shortly before it began moving, everyone was smiling and waving and the residents looked fabulous!
I used to really dislike parades, (I would say 'hate' but that seems a little harsh. Dislike probably covers it.) a bunch of people sitting in lawn chairs, on the sidewalk, on someone's shoulders, just to watch other people wave at them. Parade goers pushing and shoving to get into 'their spot' along the parade route. Clowns (really, clowns) riding bikes up and down the street and squirting the unsuspecting citizen. Now really, who came up with this idea?

Then everything changed. I started working for Traditions Health Care Inc. which is a management company for skilled nursing facilities in our area. I have been with this company for about a year and a half and absolutely love, Love, LOVE IT! My favorite part is probably getting to know the sweet residents that we have. They really have a story to tell but it seems that not many want to hear it. I DO! I have learned some of the most amazing things from these seniors!

Back to why I now love parades..... It is soley because of these people. For the past two parade seasons we have created a float for them to ride on. One that will share a part of their 'story' with parade goers. Last year we had this large scrapbook on our float with pictures of some of our residents at different times in their lives. We had asked them what their favorite life memories were and narrowed that down to five: Grandparenting, Farming, Fishing, Serving in the Armed Forces and Gardening. We then dressed five of our residents (they took turns at each parade) to represent these memories. The float was aptly named 'Life's Memories'. It was so exciting to watch them prepare for the event. For most, it was their first time riding in a parade!




The first parade we had entered was the Art City Days Parade. I went ahead of the float and scouted out our position in the lineup only to find that we were placed behind the most dazzling float on earth! A 20' tall dancing senorita that twirled around and around! I honestly can't remember what else was on that float. i only remember thinking, "What have I done? We are the 'Hillbillies'!" Two of my administrators pulled the float into place. Residents arrived and were loaded onto the float. Sweat drizzled down my back. Everyone was melting in the heat. And just when there seemed to be no relief in sight, a breath of fresh air came by in the way of the judging committee! Our float had been chosen as the "Best of Theme". All of a sudden the heat didn't matter. We were dancing and screaming! It was an amazing thing! By the way, the dancing senorita.....not even a nod for great routine!

That started a whirlwind of parades and 3 more awards. The residents were all clamoring for their turn to ride on the float. One resident rider asked me if she could have a copy of the picture I took of her on the float. She said, "My kids are never going to believe that I was in a parade!" They all received a photo of their experience and memories for a lifetime!

This year our float was sure to be amazing. Jason, Melanie (2 of the administrators)and I went to a float making class in SLC. While we were there they came up with an idea of putting a lion on a float (not a real one!) and calling the float "Noble Hearts" and having the residents sitting on thrones and dressed as royalty. And as luck would have it......the instructor of the class happened to have a large lion we could rent for the season. He thought it was 15' long by 10' high. Sounded like a perfect fit for the trailer we use for our float. Melanie and Jason were so excited that they went up the next day to pick it up. The lion was kept in a warehouse way up high in the rafters. After some finagling and a fork lift, the lion was placed on the trailer. Hmmmmm.......the lion must have grown! It was actually 20' long by 13' high and barely fit on the trailer. The lion was strapped down and headed for the long journey home. Jason and Melanie decided it would be smart to go through all of the small towns and the back streets instead of the freeway so they could travel as slow as they needed to. That was an excellent idea considering the fact that the lion exited the float in Pleasant Grove! The police came and had to block off the street so they could retrieve the pieces.

Now we are really in a pickle. Rented lion in pieces. Four weeks until first parade. No plan B. Never fear, Melanie is here! She is seriously one of the most talented people I know. She spent hours upon hours rebuilding the lion with spray foam and a putty knife! Check it out in the picture. She is also responsible for the beautiful royal costumes and the float design! Wow!




We have done three parades so far and no award, At least not one from the parade committee! The true reward is the smiles on the faces of our residents as they wave to those silly people sitting in lawn chairs, on the sidewalk and on someone's shoulders. I guess parades have a purpose after all.