The Make A Wish team called and asked if Johnny would ride on their float in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade — of course he said yes. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any beer — but we all managed to have a good time anyway…

The “Crew”

Johnny with a little Irish in him (or at least his nose).

Mike, Sophie and Tessa. Tessa LOVES Mike, no really she does, I know, it baffle us too (Mike included). He usually tries to scare small children with his deep voice, but Tessa is smart, she can see right through his “I hate small children” facade.

Nana and Pops chillin’ before the start of the parade. All they need to complete their look is a flashing candy pacifier necklace…

Sophie and her new glasses.

The MAW float was one of the last ones of the parade. We couldn’t have asked for better weather or better seats (MAW kids/families were under a tent). — Well except for this old lady who was seated right between the MAW tent and the judges tent. I am pretty sure she was Irish because she had a Shilelagh in her hand — you know the traditional Celtic weapon — as one person so eloquently puts it, “to beat the #$&@ out of the Proddy’s” (Protestant’s). She was about 250lbs, and I’m not kidding you when I say this, she looked just like the witch from Snow White:

Missing teeth and all. Except instead of a poison apple, it was a Shilelagh she kept slapping in her hand. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and thought that maybe she was separated from her party or escaped from assisted living, and when the moment presents itself, help her find her way back to where ever she was spawned.

Since we were right next to the judges booth, all of the floats stopped in front of us to show off whatever their thing was — some people River Danced, some showed off Irish Setters and no parade (Irish or otherwise) would be complete without Shriner’s zipping around in tiny cars. With the parade underway, the first float stops and the Shilelagh woman starts yelling in an old crackly voice, much like the witch from Snow White, “COME ON! GET MOVING! MOVE IT! MOVE IT! MOVE IT!”. I was startled at first and looked back at sister who gives me this ‘What-the-$#@@!-is-she-for-real?’ look and we both laugh. I thought to myself, “Wow. She really likes parades. Hopefully she won’t do that the entire time.”

But she did. Half way through the parade she told me that this was her job (last year) — to keep the parade moving, so she had to yell every ear piercing time they stopped. Not only to “KEEP IT MOVING”, but “NO THROWING THINGS FROM THE FLOAT” was also screeched numerous times throughout the parade. No candy, no beads, no frisbee’s, nothing.

Trust me. You didn’t want this woman to come after you with her ancient Celtic weapon — although she didn’t look very quick on her feet, she did look like she could do some damage with the Shilelagh.

We were almost to the end of the parade when a Judge finally tells Shilelagh woman, “They have to stop and perform for us.” But she just ignored him. I guess it’s people like Shilelagh woman that make my life interesting, albeit deaf in my left ear, the doctor’s say I will hopefully regain my hearing before next St. Patrick’s Day.