My Grandmother and Allentown

My family was not real drum corps fans.

My dad was known to drive buses for me and drive trucks when I was in the Hornets, and my brother Mark marched for a few years. And let’s not forget: in 1983, my t-shirt-selling team was Sue Erben, who tried to manage the crew, and … my brothers Mark and Matt, Mark’s girlfriend, and my sister Mary. One year … that is all they could take, and all I could take.

But for a good many years, my grandmother would travel to the Allentown show. Actually, she took a bus from Shenandoah, PA, to Philadelphia; she then took a local train to Morton, PA, in Delaware County, and my dad would, or one of “the boys” would, pick her up.

She loved going to see the show. She was my biggest fan. She could not pick the Cadets out from anyone else, but once she was on track , she was out of control.

Like those commercials about retired folks who talk too much... she would tell everyone in the stands about her grandson Georgie. How would I know? Well, when i went in the stands to say hello, everyone called me “georgie”

And how did I know where the family was sitting ?

Well, I walked to the back of the field, looked up, and I could spot my grandmother’s hair every time :-)

All for now …

I just happened to see a picture, and I thought I would share.

To do a full breakdown on “GRAM” …. that will take a chapter :-)

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