by lauryn ricketts

Growing up with Apple Blossom has been a huge tradition for anybody living in the Winchester area. For me it has been additionally special considering I live and breathe Apple Blossom time every year, the first weekend in May. People decorating everything they can think of in a splash of Pink and Green, the bleachers by John Handley High School being built in less than a week and also the influx of people into the city just goes to show how tight-knit this community really is. The first Apple Blossom I remember is sitting at the Grand Stands. I was three (and yes the parade was a little long for me)--however, I made a game out of seeing how many pooper scoopers would come down the street in front of the grand stand. Now and days more sophisticated pooper scoopers have taken suit, however, back in the day it was a hard day's work with just a shovel and a bucket. I guess this is why I was drawn to them...thus, the pooper scooper being my absolute favorite feature in the parade....and it is to this day!  As my great-grandmother claims below...it is quite the "parade necessity."

I was quite the lucky girl when I was able to honor Queen Katherine Desiree Luckinbill as one of her Princesses for the 75th Anniversary Apple Blossom Festival. She was the granddaughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez.. Lucille Ball actually was a Grand Marshall for the Apple Blossom Festival in the 60's so it was such an honor to have a Queen that continued a wonderful family held tradition. I was a freshman in college when I was able to do such a special thing. However, I didn't do it alone....3 of my best friends and 7 other friends I had were ALL in the court that some year! 

These are two of my best friends, Ashely Smith (you may remember her from the first blog entry) and Amy Iden. Both were Maids in the festival but we were all in the Queen's Court.

Pictured below at Glen Burnie are Handley High School's best. I was so fortunate to have many friends in the court the same year! It was such a thrill for all of us....

Starting from top left 1st row: Jess Tone, Katie Goodloe, Kayla Hawse. 2nd row: Amy Iden, Shannon Anderson, Katie Carr, Marissa Swope...Bottom row: Ashley Smith and me--(can you believe how long my hair is....I am not going to lie--I miss it!)

The picture below features one of my best friends Kayla Hawse and me (right window)--I was so excited when I saw the Winchester Star there taking our picture!  We were leaving Selma (a big house on Amherst Street) after a reception dinner. Our Marines were on a different bus and they were serenading us with some cheesy song...If I recall correctly it was "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond (However, I could of just made that up completely). Either way it was such a fun day!

Now, Princess duties began Thursday morning at Handley High School for Cornation practice. That is also when we were assigned our Marine for our escort. The Marines were all lined up and down the halls of Handley. Of course, I walk in and go sit in a classroom with all the other Princesses to be. So us girls get to talking, as teenage girls do, and the only thing to talk about is the MARINES. We all saw this one Marine who was GORGEOUS--I mean, he was a 10.  I of course was hoping that he was going to be assigned to me--every Princess wanted him to escort them. Luck have it, he was my escort--believe you me, I am forever grateful to the person in charge of pairing Princesses and Marines together!! Let me introduce you to Marine Alex Jarret pictured below--(I forgot his official title). In all honestly, one of the sweetest people I have ever met. A Tulane graduate and a med school student (studying to be a pediatrician of all things), Alex was such a wonderful person. He was based out of the Marine Base in Quantico, VA. We kept in touch briefly, however, as things go we fell out of touch. The last I heard was he was heading overseas and unfortunately I have not spoken with him since. Heartbreaking, I know.

I also had the opportunity to attend the Queen's Ball where the one and only Dan Akroyd performed!! My dad and I danced all night!