Bottom line.  We schleped the old wood off the 17′ trailor to make room for a sleigh. Who’d have thunk that the garage we were to store it in to prep it for the parade would be too skinny?  Good grief, those thick tires were in the wrong place. Kick into plan B. Do we have a plan B?  Invent it, just like another munchkin flavor!  O.K. Done. There’s another garage, wider door, and long enough, currently housing a pickup truck that could pick up just about anything.  Anyway….that’s now in the driveway (let’s hope it doesn’t snow) and the 17′ trailor on loan is safely backed into the garage waiting for a sleigh to arrive. Who said it would be easy?  That’s why we’re going for the GOLD.  Stay tuned.

Copyright 2008 Laurie Widmark

Well, we’re about to embark on finishing up the very first Ageless Dreamer parade float, which, we’re proud to say, is co-sponsored with Progressive Foods, Rochester, NH. – owners of seven Dunkin Donut franchises in Rochester, Somersworth, and Gonic, NH area!  I’ll take a photo soon so you can marvel at the charming life size cut out sleigh, thanks to the fine jigsaw talents of one of their employees, Carl.  Thanks, Carl, for taking on that first critical step of creativity with 4-6 sheets of plywood.  Of course the idea of a sleigh was the brainchild of yet another Dunkin employee, Crystal. We might still be on the drawing table if it wasn’t for her!  The plywood and use of the 17′ trailor that will become one with the sleigh, was so kindly donated by Tim Noonan Construction.  Tim’s always been there to lend a generous and helping hand to Ageless Dreamer and we certainly do appreciate it and him. 

What color is this sleigh, you ask?  The artistic hand of another Dunkin Donut employee, Carol K., has been magically transforming the plywood design into a  high gloss red  which is on its second coat of  paint. We are surrounded by so much giving of talent and time!  Obviously, We’re  going for the GOLD, i.e. FIRST PLACE win for the best float carrying the parade theme: Christmas Dreams.  In full color our banners will read: NEVER TOO OLD TO DREAM!  www.agelessdreamer.org

Oh, did I mention the two park-like-benches that will sit inside the sleigh?  Two men and two women will sit comfortably with heating blankets, if necessary, smiling and waving to the crowd.  Yes, we anticipate it being cold on Dec. 7, since it is, afterall, the live free or die state of New Hampshire.  Step one is almost finished and then we begin the finishing touches: holiday lights outlining the sleigh, 7 ft tall Christmas tree adorned with those clear, plastic Dunkin Donut cups we’re all so familiar with.  We’ll most likely hang a few Munkin boxes on it, too, just for variety. After all, DD has variety in donuts, munkins, and awesome coffee!   

And not to be forgotten, the cutest Elves you’ll ever see in this neck of the woods, distributing (maybe throwing?) Lindt Mint chocolates!  The very finest chocolates were donated to Ageless Dreamer last week and we’re just “melting” with excitement to share them with everyone watching the parade.  Hope to see you there on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m., downtown Rochester, NH.     You can count on hearing more about how this comes together!