Idaho Mountain Express: Wagon Days

Friday, August 31, 2012

Wagon Days

By CHRIS MILLSPAUGH

Here we go, boys and girls, it’s Wagon Days weekend which means summer is over—get ready for the autumn and winter seasons. Although we have had plenty of smoke in the skies for the last month, it promises to be a warm, sunny day for the parade this Saturday.

I’ve had the privilege of announcing the parade for the last decade in my spot in front of the St. Thomas Church on Sun Valley Road. In the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of entertaining returning parade viewers and we’ve all developed quite a relationship. The same wonderful lady brings me lunch and beverages each year while others exchange pleasantries and updates on their lives with me. It’s like a big family reunion each year as we view the nonmotorized entries of the parade passing by our faces.

Here’s what to look for this year:

( The city of Sun Valley’s 1900 John Deere carriage will house the mayor and City Council members and will be dragging an anchor behind it labeled “Audit” and “Marketing Alliance” to represent its progress in the community.

( The Burley High School Bobcat Band has been marching in the parade for more than 33 years. Many of the woodwind section are now in their 50s and carry portable oxygen gear.

( The Stud Cart will be filled with Chippendale dancers representing the fertilization of the Old West.

( Ralph the Camel will be smoking nonfiltered cigarettes out of his neck as he plods along in yet another parade health reminder.

( The High Country Peruvian Pasos, featuring the smoothest-gaited horses in the world rode by ladies with champagne glasses symbolizing one of the reasons for the success of the Old West—women on horseback drinking.

( Smokey the Bear will appear badly singed with smoke trailing from his rear representing the many large forest fires of the summer, which lowered our air quality in the Wood River Valley to an all-time low.

( Finally, the Warm Springs Riding Club will appear honoring one of their founding members, Alice Schernthanner. Alice was one of us here in the Wood River Valley, a colorful character with a wry sense of humor. In one of our last conversations this summer, I told Alice that I would be announcing the parade again, to which she replied, “So what?” Loved her.

See you at the parade and nice talking to you.

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