Homecoming

It's Homecoming season!  I went to Hobby Lobby today, and Homecoming is not to be ignored.

I grew up in the Midwest.  Homecoming was always something we looked forward to. Most of the weekend before and the early part of the week was spent in someone's garage stuffing tissue paper squares into the holes of chicken wire. There was the parade down Main Street on Thursday afternoon (a short day for actual education).  There was a pep rally (another short day for education) on Friday, and of course, the Game.  The King and Queen were announced at the dance on Saturday night.  In a small town surrounded by cornfields, it was a big event.

I always wanted a mum, and one year I got one. (Flowers were mostly reserved for the dance, and so I typically got roses.  Don't feel bad for me because I only got one mum!)  In the Midwest, a football mum meant a real mum.  One big spidery bloom with a blue pipe cleaner K for Knoxville, and a bow....a small bow.

Today at Hobby Lobby I ran into a woman shopping for a Homecoming mum.  She was with another woman who was asking questions and taking notes.  She was the person who was actually going to be making the mum - a personal floral designer.  There is a large section reserved for just Homecoming mum supplies.  For those who are confused, perhaps I should remind you that this is Texas.  Texas is Football.....thus Homecoming is all about the mum for the High School girl.  Mums are silk flowers, some have lights, and teddy bears, and rabbit's feet, and well....lots of mums!  Here are a few of the starter mums displayed:

  See the shopping cart?

 I call these starter mums because they're generic.  They aren't finished. Whoever buys these beauties must invest more to jazz it up and personalize it.  The girl who gets one of these had better been working out all summer, and the guy had better been saving his money.  They don't come cheap.  There is no over the top when it comes to Homecoming mums.  Oh, and the guys get one too.  They are made with a garder and are worn on the arm:

The kids usually give their dates their mums on Thursday for the community pep rally..... right before the fireworks. I'm not referring to the fireworks between the teenage Divas calculating who got the most expensive mum.  Nor do I mean those caused by the guy's father when he finds out exactly how much was spent on the mum.  I mean REAL fireworks!  Alumni? Welcome Home!

I'm grateful for:
- My kids are out of high school!
- I don't have to make homecoming mums!! YIPPEE!!
- Memories of small town homecomings.