Yamboree

There are so many memories from the Yamboree. You get anywhere near the square and the lights, the squeals, the music, the smells... Any of them will trigger the nostalgia of times past. We have rarely missed a trip back for it. It's tradition! But more than that... It's tradition for everyone that grew up here. We always get to visit with someone, friends or family, that we have not seen in years.



We must go to the pageant on Thursday. Right now it is because Bri loves to see all the beautiful princesses and little kids. But also to check out the dresses. Mom usually has at least one that she made if not the queen's and the court and dancers too! We can always tell which one is hers because it is the one that fits, the one that doesn't drag the floor when they walk, and they don't have to lift it up to walk up the stairs... But at the same time it doesn't ride up so high that it shows off her shoes. And they are beautiful and tasteful, not gaudy and flashy. Mom has


been making dresses for the pageant for around 40 years!


Another yamboree tradition is Mema! We always say that Mema opens and closes the yamboree... It doesn't start without her there and she is always at the bandstand dancing untill it closes. She is our base. If you need to communicate with someone, sooner or later they will stop by to see her. And before Mema it was Granny.



There are so many memories there. Parades, sweet potato pie, turkey legs, working in the church or school booths selling hamburgers, dancing, band contests, fiddling contests, crafts, sweet potato people, rides... Just a part of who you are when you grow up in Gilmer!





-- Posted from my iPhone