Wayback Wednesday: Parade Day

Sarah Heffern

On the list of random facts you may not know about me is that I have (well, had) mad baton-twirling skillz. I never made it to the point of being a majorette in high school or anything, but I took lessons from the time I was four until I was about 12. Over the years I learned regular twirling, as well as little flags (as the photo shows), and, ultimately, fire. Burned all the hair off one of my arms twirling fire, in fact. Eileen took lessons for a while, too, but not – as far as I recall, anyway – as long as I did.

My teacher was the married older sister of a school friend who taught us in her basement. Eventually, she had enough students to form a little group to perform in local parades. We were called the Pink Panthers, with the cute hot-pink skirts shown below. I have a vague recollection of there being some sort of falling out amongst the group that led to the creation of a second group – Pink Panthers, Ltd. (I know, right?) – but I have no real idea what that was all about. What I do know is that we marched in more parades than I can remember, mostly because I blocked them out. Why? It’s simple: Binghamton, New York; St. Patrick’s Day and/or Veteran’s Day; a mile-plus parade route; and short skirts. You cannot imagine the cold…

Clearly, this picture was from a summer parade – Memorial Day or 4th of July, perhaps.

Eileen and me, circa 1979.
Eileen and me, circa 1979.

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Do you have photos from your past that you’re willing to share – and a blog to post them on? Play along with Wayback Wednesday by linking back to this post or sharing in the comments so we can snoop into your past, too!

9 thoughts on “Wayback Wednesday: Parade Day”

  1. sprite January 25, 2012 / 6:39 pm

    I’m sorry — did you just type that you can twirl FIRE?!?!?!

    I’m wholly impressed.

    • Sarah January 25, 2012 / 9:02 pm

      Well, I wouldn’t say I can twirl fire – I’d probably end up in the hospital if I tried it now, but once upon a time, I could.

  2. Mary January 25, 2012 / 6:49 pm

    This may be the funniest thing you have ever written in your blog!

    • Sarah January 25, 2012 / 9:05 pm

      Thanks!

  3. Eileen January 25, 2012 / 7:07 pm

    You forgot about the hoop batons! But yes, your mad skills exceeded mine. I never got to fire. And it’s funny, I don’t recall the break up. I thought we were always the Pink Panters Ltd. Fun times.

    • Sarah January 25, 2012 / 9:03 pm

      Oh! The hoop batons! How could I have forgotten those?

  4. Marlene January 25, 2012 / 7:16 pm

    and you make fun of me for being a cheerleader in high school…

    • Sarah January 25, 2012 / 9:05 pm

      Can I blame the fact that I started this when I was too young to choose my own activities?

  5. Mom January 26, 2012 / 4:13 am

    That’s OK — You can blame me for all the fun you had !!!

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