Watermelon Day

Today we participated in what makes small town America so special.  Today was Watermelons Day in little Humeston, Iowa, population 900.  It was a day of friends meeting friends and celebrating the little community they live in.  Bigger towns should take notice because they did it big and proud. 

My daughter's father-in-law started the day bright and early when he arrived in town to eat breakfast at the local diner and enter his classic corvette in the car show.  He wanted to be early because he wanted to be sure and secure a spot in front of my daughter's new store on main street, or Broad St. as they call it.  I think that might have been a little bit of pride in her and to be sure he could get inside where it was air conditioned if it got too hot.  My daughter's store, Sweet Southern Sass, is due to open in mid-August but interest in the little community has been so high that she had opened her building to people wanting to see what she was doing.  The betting is about 50-50 on whether she is crazy or inspired for desiring to open a children's boutique in a little town in rural Iowa.  However, the support for her courage and industiousness is 100%.  There was a steady stream of well-wishers coming through to view a sample of her merchandise and see the still unfinished building. 

Then about 10 am the corvette was commandeered to participate in the parade with Grandpa Jake, my daughter, and her two girls.  They were to throw candy from the car to all the children and parents lining the parade route.  Of course, there was a banner across the back of the car announcing the opening of the new store.  Family and friends all pulled their chairs to the curb and took up their places to cheer the parade participants on.  It was a triumph of small town pride.  There were horses, carriages, motorcycles (motorcycles and horses being safely spaced far apart), Shriners in little fast cars and little three wheelers, trucks with local businessmen and their families, two wagons with members from two high school class reunions, representatives from the boy scouts, police, fire departments, health department, library, schools, businesses, and sports teams, all marching in the heat and proud to do so.  Thank goodness no real emergency arose, since the parade also contained all the county vehicles--fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, sheriff cars, water trucks, and utility vehicles.  It's Iowa so there were also several tractors, both antique and new, and few pieces of huge equipment that I could only guess the purpose of.  Each was greeted with a cheer and wave from the watchers with lots of comments flying back and forth from participants and viewers.

After the parade everyone good humoredly gathered under the shade at the small city park to eat hamburgers, corn dogs, and pork chops.  The band started to tune up on the bandstand and families gathered around tables to visit and eat.  Small children were passed from relative to friends while older ones were watched indulgently by the adults as they played on the swings and slides.  Games were organized and soon the sounds of laughter and cries of victory could be heard.  Everywhere there were groups of people greeting and visiting and just enjoying the summer day.  After lunch, naturally, watermelons was served to the crowd. 

Even the watermelons have a story.  It seems they were due to arrive  on Friday in a semi delivering groceries to a local store.  However, the driver got within an hour of Humeston and discovered he was over his hours and couldn't drive any further.  The word went out that the Watermelon Day melons were stranded.  Soon one of the local men with a CDL license (most of these grain farmers drive their own semi's) was on his way to rescue the watermelons for the festival.  They arrived in plenty of time to be iced down so they were crisp, cold and juicy for the festival goers.

By mid-afternoon people began to drift home to get ready for the evening events.  There were several class reunions, a few family reunions and just lots of family gatherings for those who had traveled home for the celebration. Tired and happy we all joined the exodus to return to the farm and naps for all.  (Grandparents and grandchildren both require lots of rest).

Someday, these events will probably be a thing of the past.  However, for right now I am delighted I had an opportunity to take it all in.  Rural America at it's best.