Independence Day 2000 - Page Two

Rutledge's Fastest Four Year Old; Morbecks Drift to 3rd Place!

.....We mustered with our fellow townspeople over by the Triangle, waiting patiently to be judged by the roving team of parade magistrates. Just as everyone was getting antsy Parade Grand Marshal Dolly (of Dolly’s Hair Salon , Rutledge’s only commercial establishment) gave the signal and the Fire Engines blew their horns. We were off! Mr. Jefferson was originally slated to help pull the float but mysteriously ended up riding in the middle seat instead. We marched down the avenue (Rutledge Avenue, that is) just behind a set of covered wagons, also probably historically inaccurate (in the grand timeline scheme of things we should have been just a little ahead).
......We received numerous cheers from onlookers along the parade route, which raised our hopes of Total and Complete Victory even further. The parade’s path manages to go within a block of every house in Rutledge. If you had asked me last week, I would have told you that our town is completely flat topography-wise. This was before I had to drag a 150 lb canoe filled with 150 lbs of boys 8 blocks. Aha, there are some little hills here, mostly of the upwards variety. Our friend 9 year old Chelsey Sokoloff got tired of marching so she received permission to come aboard as well.

......We arrived at Town Hall where hot dogs and sodas were procured to quench our insatiable hungers. The Legion guys had a hard time raising the American Flag up the pole all the way (a wire rope loop kept getting stuck), and then someone sang a stirring rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" through a bull horn





......We waited with bated breath as the awards for "Best Family Floats" were announced from the steps of the old Fire Hall. After dodging the dreaded "Honorable Mention" bullet, it was official: "Third Place in the Family Float Division goes to..............

The Morbeck Family!


..... I went up and received the white ribbon of shame (last year’s 2nd place ribbon was red- I can only IMAGINE what color the First Place Ribbon is), as well as an envelope containing the munificent sum of $1, a fine payoff for a job well done.

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......There was really no point to crying in our root beers - Metaphorically we had bigger fish to fry. Once again a gigantic set of steps was dragged out onto the far side of Unity Terrace. And then............

FIRE ENGINE RIDES FOR EVERYBODY!


......The white Fire Truck with Blue Wheels has never looked shinier, clouds of diesel exhaust belching out merrily. Brad must have jumped the queue because at one point (while the little boys and I were still waiting haplessly on the sidewalk) I looked up and saw him go by in motorized emergency equipment splendor. Sally brought back some water ices to slake our thirsts. On the next circumlocution of the Fire truck I saw the Firefighters carefully passing Brad through the back window of the vehicle’s monstrous cab - another ride in the front for RFD’s biggest fan!















.......Our turn finally arrived. Gabriel and Benjamin carefully made their way up the steps and climbed aboard, a culmination of a year of intense ground level study of Rutledge Fire Engines on Monday Nights. A good time was had by all as we all raced around Rutledge with horns and sirens a blarin’.




...... We dragged our float home and laid low for about an hour, soaking up cool air and cooler drinks, in preparation for Brad’s personal Moment of Truth.


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