Oh, Tulip Time. Why You Wanna Do Me So Wrong?

We are in the final stretch. Today is the last day of Tulip Time, and our only responsibility is to Maria, who wants to sit and watch a parade from beginning to end. I've already seen four parades, so the thought is not thrilling to me. The wind, which is relentless this year, is also detracting from the appeal of parade-watching, but we plan to bundle ourselves.

As we made our way to our lawn chairs to watch Maria in the night parade yesterday evening, a good friend walked right by us, a dazed and forlorn look on his face. "Jon!" we cried. He gave us a weak smile and adjusted his parka/hoodie ensemble. "It's the worst Tulip Time ever. The worst!" he moaned. He had been shuttling his girls to and fro all day, and was thoroughly buffeted by the wind. I could empathize, as I was feeling buffeted myself. Maria had helped corral the kindergarteners in the afternoon parade, and then later in the parade she rode a bike-type contraption. Grandma had dropped Maria off at the staging area while I was at work, then I picked her up at the picking-up place. Twice. Which means I had to run several blocks. Twice.

I'm way too old for this. Not to mention delicate.

Today's forecast calls for a high of 54 degrees, with winds at 24 mph and wind gusts up to 36 mph. That's not super.

However, I do plan to comfort myself with a plate of poffertjes. YUM.