Published: August 13, 2008 04:37 pm            

The Yield: ‘Come away with me Lucille in my merry Oldsmobile’

Originally published in the August 8, 2008, print edition.

Stan looked truly “dapper” in his black Bowler hat and paisley vest.

Black elastic armbands held his sleeves in place so he could drive, in vintage clothing, his replica 1903 Curved Dash Oldsmobile at the Vernon Center Fourth of July Parade.

I was pleased with the workmanship and design of the car. To build it had been a long-time dream of his.

I was proud to accompany my husband in my long yellow and beige dress. A straw hat completed the outfit. Would we be too warm in these “old fashioned” clothes of long-sleeved shirts? Stan anticipated the July heat; he put a black canvas top over the seat to keep both driver and rider cool.

He loaded the car on the trailer. It looked cute with the curved oak dash we’d sanded until it gleamed in the sunshine. “Well, this is our first parade,” he smiled. “Are you ready?”

We found our assigned lot, number 55. It was in front of my sister’s house. Debbie invited us in for refreshments and an air-conditioned home. It was fun to catch up on the doings of the rest of our family. “Did you bring candy?” she asked. We thought we’d get the stratagem in hand before we tried throwing candy.

Since we were almost last in line, the children at the beginning of the parade route already had bundles of bags heaping with candy by the time we reached them. At the end of the parade, there were sad-faced children with only a few pieces. Debbie had given us some candy she scavenged at the beginning of the parade, but it was gone.

“Next Saturday at the Green Giant Parade in Blue Earth, we’ll just throw a bit at the beginning crowd and save some for the children at the end,” we planned.

I was happy and surprised at people’s appreciation of our car. There was clapping and waving, and some kept time to the music Stan had recorded. Children danced as it played “Come away with me Lucille in my merry Oldsmobile.”

“Oh no,” Stan moaned. “It’s the 4th of July and I forgot to put the American flags in the brackets of the car. We laughed into each other’s eyes, mindful of the years that were adding old age problems like memory loss.

As it happens we are grateful to God for each other during this time in our lives. Evenings we pray thanksgiving prayers for the simple gifts: sunshine, rain, work done, the gathering of friends for meals in our home. We are appreciative of being able to build our car and ride in a parade.

The downcast looks of youngsters with empty sacks at parade’s end reminded us to remember the next parade.

I will always remember the festive spirit of the crowd and their appreciation of our Curved Dash Olds. God Bless America!

        

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