It was 1968 and I was crowned the Southwest Missouri Junior Miss and was the first to reign over the Maple Leaf festivities in our quaint little town of Carthage, Missouri.
So many entries were in the parade — the Navy Band, the Mizzou Band, area marching bands, football players and cheerleaders riding on CW&EP trucks, clowns with candy, floats from every church and civic organization. Old cars, trucks and tractors were intermingled along the parade route. Of course the Shriners were always a crowd pleaser.
Whatever You Do, Don’t Miss The Parade!
My future husband, Jim Crocker, saw me in this parade sitting on the back of a red convertible. He chased me two blocks to get a photo of me.
We would meet, have coffee at the C & W Cafe, date for two years, get married, live in three states and yes — raise two kids! We moved back to this beautiful town when our kids were in grade school. Then it was their turn to ride in the Maple Leaf parades for all of their activities, so of course we took photos of them.
Whatever You Do Don’t Miss The Parade!
Years later when our city was celebrating the Maple Leaf Parade, that same guy who took my photo of me and became my husband, was my chauffeur in another red convertible.
Well this year — two years later after a battle with ALS my husband will miss the parade, just two months short of the 50th anniversary of him chasing me down the street to get that photo of me in that red convertible.
So, Whatever You Do, Don’t Miss This Parade!
And while you are there, look for any red convertible and think of our 50-year-old love story! I certainly will!
