Saturday, December 7, 2002 – Wow! What a beautiful day for a parade! This was my 3^rd year to take part in Olive Branch’s Christmas parade. So, I am rather use to standing out in the cold wind, wishing for a parka and a catalytic heater. Not this time. I think the high temperature was in the upper 50s that day. Just right for shedding the coat, once the parade starts.

I arrived an hour and a half before the scheduled start and had NO problem with the traffic. Matter of fact, I was sort of lonesome for a while. But I had my chocolate covered glazed donuts and coffee to keep me company. Had to have something about food in here.

In no time, we all had our VWs decorated and plenty of time to swap tall tales. The pets that accompanied our members were pretty entertaining too. You have not lived until you have been on the receiving end of a slurppy kiss from Martin, Tim Key’s bulldog. What a face washing! Ha! And Ricky Brigg’s Dalmatian, Chelsea was more lady-like. Just a peck, please.

Of course, like other parades, we had a good delay half-way through. I found out later that a young boy fell out of a tree while trying to get a good viewing perch. He broke his arm in the fall. So they stopped the parade to let the ambulance through. Still, it seemed the parade moved better than it did in 2001. Maybe because they limited the performances to 90 seconds.

I think that Camille had some pretty creative decorations on her silver New Beetle... like the group of stuffed toy penguins on top. She is also the only one of us who had their picture taken from the judging balcony. Maybe YOU can join in next year... and get creative. Here is a sampling of some of the photographs that you will find on our web site.