Manchester Homecoming - Behind The Scenes

This type-A girl did something last Monday that I haven't done in a really long time.  I took a day off.  I mean an honest-to-goodness day off watching reruns of Law & Order SVU and staying in my pajamas until noon.  Long after my husband and son left the house to begin the start of another work and school week, I lounged in bed with two cats and numerous cups of coffee. Thus began the day after my first year as a volunteer. 

Since Sept. 13, 1991, I have lived in this house in what was once unincorporated St. Louis County.  In 1999, we were lucky enough to be annexed into the city of Manchester, though long before we were "official" residents we already felt that we were a part of this great little city. 

So each year we went to , first with enthusiastic little kids, then with middle schoolers who didn't want to acknowledge us (except for requests for food and ride money) and then finally as almost empty nesters (at which point we invited our friends!).

Year in and year out, that weekend after Labor Day signified the unofficial end of summer in Manchester, and I have always enjoyed the sporadic hours I spent up at , riding rides, listening to music, eating good food and just hanging out. Someday, I thought, when things settle down, I think I'll join the Homecoming Committee and see what it takes to plan this three-day party.

You see, I've always been the party instigator among family and friends.  Each year, folks gather at Chez Smith for the annual Thanksgiving Dinner in the living room, a raucous New Year's Eve slumber party and a Super Bowl party with massive amounts of food and beverages. 

In addition, there are several party evenings and/or weekends a year here and a few on the road as well.  So I'm used to planning parties, and what better way to get involved than to help plan Manchester's biggest party of the year?

So I joined the committee this year, on the 25th anniversary of Manchester Homecoming.  And I gained a newfound respect for the volunteers in blue Homecoming Committee shirts that I had always noticed buzzing about the park during the weekend's festivities. 

Folks, it takes an incredible amount of work by a lot of dedicated and talented people to pull off Manchester Homecoming.  Led by our outstanding Parks and Recreation Department, what starts out as a concept at the first meeting in March turns into a full-blown parade/carnival/foodfest/party/concert by the second weekend in September. 

I stand in awe of the city employees and volunteers who have worked so hard year after year to make it happen.  And for the first time ever, I got to be a part of it.   Was it a lot of work?  You bet it was.  My feet hurt from running hither and yon  over the course of four days.  But was it an absolute BLAST? Absolutely!

My stomach muscles hurt worse than my feet by the end of the weekend because I haven't laughed that hard or had that much fun in a long time.

So to Jackie and Alice and Sarah and Sharon and Sue and Dottie and Patty and Jett and RayRoy and Jean and Kari and Nancy and Ruth, Norman and the guys at the American Legion beer booth, and everybody else whose names I'm still trying to learn, thanks for showing me the ropes. 

And to the aforementioned Manchester Parks and Recreation Department-Eileen, Denise, Stephanie, Judy, Craig, Roger, Devon, Paul and Connor-you guys ROCK!  I already can't wait to see what's in store for next year, so count me in!