Homecoming

As for homecoming, I've seen a few. Having been in the band as a teenager and experiencing it through my daughter's high school let's just say I've been around the block on this one. But nothing could have prepared me for a small town Homecoming!

Can we just back up a moment? When I went to High School, I was one of over 600 graduates and my daughter had more than that. There was as many kids in her one high school as there are in the current town we live in. So our homecoming experience in this small town was...well...was so cute!

It all starts the night before. There is a pep rally with a bonfire!


The Fire Department showed up to control the fire which was good because there was a bit of a wind and the fire does tend to spread.

The band was there to play the fight song of course!!! And to also play the music the cheerleaders danced to...on an 18 wheeler!!!! They had their own stage! There're my boys! They were happy...see Ryan grinning???

The heat from this bonfire quickly sent people back. The night was a bit cool as the sun set and as soon as the fire was up and going, it got hot! The Fire Department didn't have to tell people to get back that's for sure.

The next day, the town shut down about 2. I'm not kidding!!! Everyone gathered at the decorated town square for a parade and pep rally!

Here comes the band leading the way!

The football players drive this car they painted. It's a three-seater! The 18 wheeler followed with the rest of the team and the cheerleaders. The homecoming queen nominees followed riding atop a Camaro each!

I honestly have never seen anything like this before.

They pulled up in the middle of town square and while the band played music, they cheered, they danced, they yelled, they cried...well...maybe not cried but....they sure got emotional!!! I sorta felt sorry for the opposing team....we were going to crush 'em!! At least that's what the coaches said!

Here's the town gathering. Employees from the nearby Pizza Place and other businesses closed up shop to cheer on the team!!

That night was the game! The band finally felt comfortable enough to march the half-time show! The theme was James Bond and they figured 007 on the field! So entertaining!!! And the game??? Well, it was a great game! The opposite team kept the game close and in the last 4 seconds they were down by two and tried to win with a field go... AND LOST!!!!! The crowd went wild!!! It was an awesome night...and a great experience!