Mortified Mother.

Well, let's just say we had an adventure tonight. I promised the boys they could each pick out a movie at Mr. Movies tonight. So we're headed to North Liberty, and I discover our tank is on empty, so I decide to head to the gas station first. We're headed into town and up ahead we notice the street is blocked off with saw horses and there is a ton of people standing around. I proceed ahead slowly looking for a place to turn around. I notice a police officer move the saw horse and enthusiastically wave us through. I have no idea what's going on. I yell, "Joe! What do I do??!??" (he's in the very back of the van with Noah.) The reply I get is, "do what the man says." So, I follow where the officer is steering us and, lo and behold, we are now participants in the Annual North Liberty Fun Days Parade. We are in a frickin' parade!!! I am mortified. Why, oh, why would he do that? I look down the street ahead of me and the curb on both sides are full of people staring at us. I look around me. We are right in the middle of some lawn mower brigade. Not those fast little zippers that mow commercial lawns, no, we're talking lawn tractors!! The next turn-off is like 3 or 4 blocks, which is a REALLY long time when you're behind 15 lawn mowers (and have an empty gas tank). I'm screaming, "what do I do? what do I do??" My husband is laughing hysterically and says, "just smile and wave". This is right up his alley. I have to add, it was a darn good thing I was driving tonight because he would have laying on his horn and pulling some figure 8's. Jack is in the front seat looking a little red in the face but laughing. Noah is jumping in his seat, yelling "I've always wanted to be in a parade!!!" By the third block, I'm over my embarassment and we are taking a quick inventory of what's in our van that we could throw out instead of candy. We came up with some loose change, a bottle of water, and an umbrella. Oh, well. We made some memories, anyways. FYI: We did make it to the gas station in time.