STUNNINGLY STUPID MORBECK FLOAT LOSES TO REALLY CUTE FLOAT WHICH DOESN'T NEED TO BE EXPLAINED!

(continued)

FINAL PREPARATIONS

A gorgeous day weather-wise greets us as we wake up early to put the final finishing touches on our float and costumes. Snappy ("Rutledge's Turtle"tm) seems eager to get started so we round up the final decorations and head down the Avenue (President, that is).  For the last twelve months Sally has been adamant about NOT entering the 2003 float competition; she's still bitter that last year's homage to Rutledge's Greatest Cat Ever (Oreo Senior) managed only to cop a disappointing third place. Great Polish Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus joins us, portrayed by an actor wearing a wig that looks remarkably like the one worn by President Thomas Jefferson in the "Lewis & Clark" presentation of a few years back.  Our float rolls almost TOO well, the wheels on the former "Oreo" mainframe having been replaced this year by borrowed casters graciously loaned to us by Dave Guerin.  We arrive at "The Triangle" and find competition in the "Family Float Division" to be sparse.  After months of wearing her down Sally finally acquiesces and we saunter over to the judge's table where we register this year's magnificent entry. We meet up with our friends the Williamson Family ("Bailey, my man........") who have constructed a "Open Division " float for daughter Claire to ride on.

CLAIRE AND LINDA

We meet up with the Sokoloffs (+1) and our crew looks vaguely like a Hell's Angel's chapter circa 2010. That dude in the middle (without the bike) looks particularly fearsome.

Ben (Betelgeuss) Morbeck, Gabe (Milky Way) Morbeck, Chelsey, Nicolas Copernicus, Becca, Max, Molly Anderson

 DEFEAT IS SNATCHED FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY

Suddenly a new parade entrant comes rumbling around the corner! It's the Martin Family (of LOWER Rutledge, but we like them anyway).  They've had the absolutely brilliant idea of making their adorable progeny into Mt. Rushmore. I bet you that they won't be hoarse from explaining what their float is supposed to be by the end of this parade!

Emma, Summer, and Madison Martin (with mother Linda) at the starting line

MT. MARTINMORE

 

 We have a nice time circumnavigating Rutledge, earnestly explaining to any and all who will listen our murky float conceptualizations. Our wheels roll so well that we occasionally start to have a "runaway" float on our hands. I can see the headlines already: "DEATH TURTLE KILLS FOUR AT RUTLEDGE PARADE".  This sure is easier than pushing a 10 foot high cat around. The "Family Float" Division occupies the next to last slot in the parade so we traditionally "bring up the rear". We're followed only by Joel (Captain America) Williamson and a Swarthmore police car.

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