A Real Princess

This could explain a lot, so stay with me.

Mountain Grove was not a big city like Springfield. It was a small town. People sat around in the Square and visited with their friends. Let me see if I can explain this. The town was carefully planned and laid out around the town square. The Square was just that--a square park with a one-way traffic pattern around it consisting of four right angles--hence, not a traffic circle. Across the street from the park in each direction was a block of retail stores. In the center of the square was a large open gazebo structure. The park was filled with park benches and had lots of shade trees. We even had a statue of someone. I have no idea what hero ever came out of Mountain Grove. They may have borrowed one.

Sometimes on Saturday evenings a blue-grass or gospel band would entertain the crowd. Stores stayed open until 8 or 9 on Saturdays. I suppose this was because the farmers from the surrounding area made their weekly trip to town on Saturdays and shopkeepers wanted to make the most of it. (Though I am sure the farmers had to be home by 4 to milk the cows.) The Square with all its park benches was always full on Saturdays. That's the kind of town Mountain Grove was.

We liked parades in Mountain Grove. We had a Christmas Parade, Homecoming Parade, Kids Day Parade and, the big one, the Dairy Day Parade. I have been an angel, a cheerleader, a member of the marching band, a kid, and a Princess. I think I was the Virgin Mary one year and had to walk the entire parade route as an 8 year old pregnant virgin.

But Dairy Day was the biggie, though I only remember one of them.

I really don't understand why my mom entered me in the contest. From the time she filled out the entry form, she made sure I understood that there was no way I was going to win. "People like us (term I was to hear often, in many circumstances) don't win these things. The rich kids always win." But even though I had no chance in ... of winning, she bought a piece of light blue dotted Swiss and had some woman make me a dress to wear. I remember being fitted for the dress and though it was simple by any standards, I thought it was beautiful.

For two weeks before Dairy Day, Mom had me practice smiling. On the day of the event, she pin curled my hair then brushed it out when it was dry. Every time Mom brushed my hair I knew for sure there would be none left attached to my scalp. It was especially true on this day. But I continued to practice my smile between my screams and cries at having my hair pulled out. Apparently, I never got it right because in our final smile rehearsal before leaving home, she said, "Don't smile. Just stand there."

We went to the high school gym and were directed backstage where someone pinned a glittered ribbon banner across my beautiful dress. I believe I was sponsored by Hauber's Jewelry. I was careful not to smile as I stood in line with the other girls across the front of the stage. No winning. No walking. No waving. No talking. No singing. No dancing. Just stood there not smiling. Then they had us all take a few steps back and instructed us to step forward as they called our names. Third runner up -- a rich girl. Second runner up -- successful business owner's daughter. First runner up -- I don't know--mayor's daughter? And this year's Dairy Day Princess -- Joy Wade, poor watchmaker's daughter! At that point you would think I broke into the biggest smile you've ever seen. Contraire! I stood like a toy soldier with no smile. (I have the newspaper clipping to prove it!) To beat it all, I looked at Mom and she was crying. I was very confused. I thought it must be a good thing that they were putting a crown on my head. I thought a smile would be appropriate, but had been told not to--and Mom--she seemed very unhappy about the whole thing.

I got to ride several times around the square on the back of a convertible in the parade. This part I'm not sure about, but I think Mom said I could smile now--and wave to the crowd!

That was Mountain Grove's last Dairy Day. I never got to crown the next Princess. I suppose that means that I am still the reigning Dairy Day Princess of Mountain Grove, Missouri. Yeah. I can live with that!