Thread Drift

[marni]

It's Patriots Day in Massachusetts. Revolutionary battle re-enactments. Not to mention the Boston Marathon.

ah yes... Patriots Day- Good times, good times. We used to re enact in the battle road engagement going from Concord to Lexington by being one of the local farmers family who would follow the battle, drag off the "corpses" so that they could resurrect as new personae and run off to get ahead of the battle so that they could die dramatically again, preferably in the town square in Lexington.

This was always followed or preceded by a day spent being a colonial lacemaker (with sag guy as a colonial weaver) at the Battle Road museum in Concord right there by the bridge where it all started.

The kids usually did the big scout campout/ camporee and did the whole re enactment march/ placing of wreaths on the monuments through Acton, Boxborough, Stow and Concord and then raced back home to march and play with the ABRHS band in the Patriots Day Parade.

Unless you live in the area, you really don't get how involved everyone is in the day.

[Crankin]

We did our ride out towards the town of Harvard, and left at noon, to avoid all of the above activities, and being run over by the Acton Minutemen marching down Strawberry Hill Rd to the North Bridge, for the re-enactment there.
I marched in the Patriot's Day parade in Concord in 2008 and 2009, with the Military Family Support Group. It was really fun. Last year, I couldn't go, and I didn't get an email about it this year, so I guess my marching days are over. On Sunday, we were taking a walk and we stopped to see the renovations of the Colonel Barrett farmhouse, which is where the colonials were actually storing their weapons. It's about 2 miles from my house and it's only open 2 days a year. Very interesting; it's going to take a long time to finish this, as it's being done to strict historical guidelines. They actually extended the National Park to include this site.
Marni, I don't remember there being a parade that the ABRHS band marched in on Patriot's Day, unless they stopped by the time Josh was in the band.

[marni]

Marni, I don't remember there being a parade that the ABRHS band marched in on Patriot's Day, unless they stopped by the time Josh was in the band.[/QUOTE]

I am probably mixing that parade up with the memorial day parade and or thanksgiving parades, although the first couple of years that my oldest was in the band I'm pretty sure that they did some sort of musical tribute at the two wreath placements at the farm house up charter road from the hs and the monument on the town square. 3 kids each did 4 years in the ABRHS marching band and jazz band, all under Mr. Hickey, until the last three years of number 3 child, who got to finish out her band gig playing in the American School of the Hague International jazz band playing in places like Warsaw, Paris, Moscow and playing in interesting venues like a reception at the American Embassy, etc. Oh the hardships!

[marni]

Marni, I don't remember there being a parade that the ABRHS band marched in on Patriot's Day, unless they stopped by the time Josh was in the band.[/QUOTE]

I am probably mixing that parade up with the memorial day parade and or thanksgiving parades, although the first couple of years that my oldest was in the band I'm pretty sure that they did some sort of musical tribute at the two wreath placements at the farm house up charter road from the hs and the monument on the town square. 3 kids each did 4 years in the ABRHS marching band and jazz band, all under Mr. Hickey, until the last three years of number 3 child, who got to finish out her band gig playing in the American School of the Hague International jazz band playing in places like Warsaw, Paris, Moscow and playing in interesting venues like a reception at the American Embassy, etc. Oh the hardships!

[Crankin]

Oh yes, Mr. Hickey. I remember when Josh came home from his first day of band camp before 9th grade, very concerned that Mr.Hickey swore at them!
The ABRHS band was a huge part of Josh's life, even after he had sort of moved on to another social group. We told him he could quit if he wanted to, but he felt a very strong commitment. We saw them play at Symphony Hall, which was a huge thrill. In fact, that was on the same day that we saw Scott run the one mile fun run that the BAA sponsors for middle school kids on the Saturday before the Marathon. That's what got him started on endurance sports, the cycling, and ultimately, DH and I cycling.
Weird, huh?

[DebW]

I am probably mixing that parade up with the memorial day parade and or thanksgiving parades, although the first couple of years that my oldest was in the band I'm pretty sure that they did some sort of musical tribute at the two wreath placements at the farm house up charter road from the hs and the monument on the town square.

Did your town have a Veteran's Day parade? My son marched with the Middle School Band on Veteran's Day and they ended at the cemetary for a memorial service.

[Crankin]

The Memorial Day parade ends either at the cemetery on Concord Rd, between Rt. 27 and 2A, or the one just outside of west Acton, on Central St. I don't remember there ever being a Veteran's Day Parade. But, I think Concord has one and maybe that's what your son marched in, Deb?
I only remember Josh coming home from the Columbus Day and St. Patrick's parades in Boston, telling me about "the gross drunk guys who run out and try to pinch the girls' azzes," while they were marching .

[Kitsune06]

YAY! My B68 Imperial came in!

[Pax]

YAY! My B68 Imperial came in!

Cool! Pics when you put it on??

[Kitsune06]

We went for a toodle in the park further than I expected my sitbones to be happy with... I wore out before my butt did, which is a good sign.

Here's Sunny all dressed in her 'tank girl' outfit (aka the "omg-don't scratch my paint" special)
Sorry 'bout the plastic bag but I'd put proofhide on and then thought "do I wanna wipe it off and waste it or just stick a bag on?" the PH was all rubbed into where my sit bones sat by the end, so yay for multitasking.

Out on my toodle I went way back in the woods (yay sorta-cyclo tires!) and picked some big leafy dandelions to steam for dinner.

I'm having a heck of a time just sitting here @ home after getting the news from X.

[marni]

Did your town have a Veteran's Day parade? My son marched with the Middle School Band on Veteran's Day and they ended at the cemetary for a memorial service.

Yes the town did have a Veterans day but not a parade. The wreath laying was actually in honor of Patriots Day- April 19th "the day of the shot heard around the world", the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the shooting of several patriots by the British red coats on Lexington green etc. and were laid in memory of the first patriots (whose names I am not remembering in a moment of mental pause) who died in the Battle of the North Bridge in Concord.

So yes it was in honor of Veterans, just not on Veterans day.

Probably far too much information.

[Crankin]

Just got back from the job fair. While most of the jobs (and there were plenty) were either working with kids or in places too far for me to consider/horrible commutes, I think I might have found one. It's in a clinic exactly like the one i am doing my internship at, but in a small city that is right next door to the town I used to teach in. It's a no stress drive *and* I estimate it's maybe 4 miles south of my old school... hence I could ride my bike. My school was 13.8 miles and maybe half a mile south of there I could get on a path that would take me directly into the down area where the clinic is. It's probably at the outer limit of a do-able commute, in terms of miles (17-18?), but since it's a flexible hours job, I could still do some riding during the day, as realistically, I might only commute once or twice a week. The woman and I hit it off and she said they need to hire someone "yesterday."
Keep your fingers crossed.

[Pax]

Fingers crossed for you Crankin!