Really, I do. I have no good excuse, but the Fourth of July parade in the small Nebraska town near my Mom’s didn’t disappoint. In fact, both Katie and I found ourselves a bit choked up as the color guard started down the street and the crowd sang the national anthem. It’s probably a good thing my soft-hearted husband stayed back at the lake to fish.
I thought this little girl riding in the firetruck with her dad was especially sweet.
The Red Hat Society, which I believe is derived from the poem that starts, “When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple.” It seems to me that the open bed of a moving truck isn’t the safest place to stash a group of elderly ladies, but they seem to be enjoying themselves.
If Mom didn’t look so darn cute in this photo, I’d make a “speaking of elderly ladies” joke here. Since she was nice enough to put up with us for four days (and we’d like to come back), I think I’d better not.
One of the many signs on this very old implement read, “Happy birthday, America.”
This trailer holds what has to be a majority of the cousins attending this family’s reunion.
This float was sponsored by a brand new organic farm in the area. We attended their open house the following day–photos to come.
A poignant reminder of the importance of the holiday:
Smith Family Weblog 
Posted by Rebecca's Mom on July 8, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I believe there is a line in the poem “When I’m an Old Woman” that reads: “I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired. . . ” Hmmm. . . exactly where I’m planted in your photo. Thank goodness I’m not wearing purple! And, BTW, most of those “elderly” ladies riding in the back of the pick-up can run circles around the best of us!
FYI: USMC LCpl. Becker is the son of our County Sheriff and his wife, who works at our local bank (with her back to us in your photo). There’s a lot of red worn around here on Fridays.
Posted by Gramma Great on July 9, 2008 at 11:06 am
Speaking of “elderly” ladies!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like a wonderful parade, but do they have the “hand-outs” you missed at Ward Springs??????? And I’ll bet you didn’t get wet either!!!! But know you had a great weekend in Nebraska! Glad to see the pictures!
Posted by karyl on July 9, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Two red had ladies came into the Quilted Moose yesterday – with their red hats and purple shirts. They had been out to tea at the new tea place in Gretna. My boss and I made a pact that if we ever got involved in that sort of thing, we would shoot each other. By the way, they didn’t purchase a single item.
Posted by smithfamilyweblog on July 10, 2008 at 12:06 pm
One float handed out bottled water–hardly the same as Jack and Cokes!