Memorial Day: a Parade and Yet Another Party

What's up, kids.

Mitch affixes our Lodge signs to a truck Morgan lent us.

So I didn't end up getting nearly as much sleep as I should have had, following yesterday's Collierpalooza, Despite going to bed around midnight I slept like crap, as did Erik, who picked me up around 8:00am to start getting stuff around for this year's Memorial Day Parade. Like we've done the last few years, we planned, organized, and recruited folks to accompany us in the parade for Centre Lodge #273, Midland's local Masonic Lodge. We usually get between seven to ten people to help out, and this year we had seven - not an ideal turnout, but better than nothing I guess. Masonic bodies are pretty elderly these days, and you can't really count on those guys wanting to walk a few miles in full sun on a Monday morning, so Erik and I always end up doing the heavy lifting for this every year.

An EV truck that Morgan got for us from his Ford dealership.

As we've done in previous years, our rally point was down on Revere Street, off Main Street downtown, where we were queued up next to the Midland Shriners (and their little clown cars.) Abby was once again marching in the vanguard of the Midland High Marching Band, along with her Varsity Pom teammates. Kris always organizes a group to march for her church, First United Methodist, distributing flyers and candy and whatever, but this year she ended up marching in it herself. Which left Alayna the sole Hough who wasn't participating in the parade at all (surprise, surprise), but she was good enough to take some pictures of us all as we marched past her vantage spot on Rodd Street, towards the tail-end of the parade route.

After the parade, Erik and I - accompanied by Mitch, who helped us out this year - had our traditional, post-parade lunch-and-beers up at Big E's, and following that we packed up a couple coolers and drove over to our girls' friend Julianna's house, whose parents had invited our families over for a driveway cookout for the afternoon. Pretty low-key, but the weather was about as perfect as you can get, so it was definitely a good time.

So here's how the Houghs spent Memorial Day '26 - enjoy. . .

Abby and the rest of the MHS Varsity Pom Team shuttled over to their staging area downtown via bus, and rallied at the second street over from Revere Street. Those groups meeting on Revere Street (like us Masons) make up the first section of the parade, while Abby and the Pom Team/Marching Band lead the middle section. Kris' church was rallying on the third street down, so they and the other organizations on that side street were bringing up the tail end of the parade.

This weird lady was sitting on her bike and staring at us for a solid twenty minutes before driving her wonky bike over and asking us where in the parade she was supposed to be at. Turns out she was supposed to be riding behind the Shriners, so we had to endure her weirdness for about an hour as we waited fellow Masons to join us on Revere Street.

Meanwhile, two blocks over, Kris and folks from her church were ready to roll with their banners and handouts.

Kris managed to walk a block over and get a pic or two of Abby as she and her fellow Chemics awaited the start of the parade.

The Magnificent Seven

Abby and Brooklyn

Killing time, still awaiting the start of the parade.

Pic courtesy of one of their coaches.

We ended up pulling ahead of this giant, inflatable eagle that the Shriners brought a long - they swapped places with us this year.

The infamous Shriner cars.

The parade finally kicked off at 10am, and as we marched onto Main Street, we passed by Midland High's position and I was able to snap a quick pic of the team in formation.

As we passed the third street, where the rearguard of the parade was waiting for the first and middle sections to pass, Kris took a couple pics of our Lodge marching past I once again helped carry our Lodge banner.)

I actually prefer carrying the banner to throwing out candy - it's way easier.

A little while later, Kris got some pics of the pommers and marching band as they marched past her. 

Entering downtown (the weather today was just PERFECT - mid-70s and nothing but sun.)

Throwing out candy to the gathered throngs.

Passing in front of our century-old residency (our Lodge owns the top floor of the building.)

Turning onto Rodd Street. The guys throwing out candy had to restock from the back of the pickup truck several times over the course of the miles-long route.

A couple blocks later, Steven and Alicia were watching the parade and took a few pics as we marched by.

The candy was holding up decently this year - we've run out by this point in the parade before, so folks bring more to throw out nowadays.

The Shriner Cars were tearing ass behind us, regularly zooming past us within arm's reach and then taking giant loops around us to return to their starting position. If you weren't careful these things would probably take your leg off.

Alayna, Sebastian, and Samson (yes, Alayna brought the dog a long for the hell of it) were a few more blocks down the road, on the opposite side.

A short time later, Abby and the Pom Team lead the Marching Band past Alayna's vantage point.

Running low on candy, but definitely not complaining about the weather.

Probably the biggest turnout we've ever seen for a Memorial Day Parade - both sides of the street were pretty packed a long the entire route, all the way to the end.

After stowing all the parade crap and partying ways with the other members of Lodge, Erik, Mitch and I drove up to Big E's for our traditional lunch and beers.

Taco Salad was on point today, for sure.

After packing up a quick cooler, Erik picked me up and we drove over to Julianna's house, where Kris, Courtney, and the girls were already hanging out in the driveway, soaking up the glorious, glorious sun.

Bought a sixer of this recently, and figured the weather today almost demanded I include it in my afternoon lineup. Tastes exactly like the original, just half the calories (and a slightly less ABV.)

I lasted a little longer than these guys in the full sun, but eventually I retreated into the shade as well.

After a couple hours hanging out there, we decided to call it. Most folks had to work early the next morning, and Yours Truly had to get up at like frickin' 4:30am in order to be at my school by 6am for our annual 8th Grade field trip to Cedar Point (which I'll cover in tomorrow's post - stay tuned for that one.)

All tuckered out. This is what a full day of sun and beers will do to a guy in his mid-40s. See ya next time, Internet.

- Brian

Collierpalooza

Welcome back, readers

Today we attended what, in years past, has been the biggest party of the year for everyone in our Tribe: Collierpalooza.

The last few years, this annual Memorial Day Party, heralding the Dawn of Summer, has grown in size to eclipse all other parties this local friend group of ours throws. Even larger, traditional parties - like our Halloween parties and the Sheahan Christmas parties - pale in comparison. Collier goes all-in on these annual bashes of his, operating multiple grills, ordering a bounce house for kids, hiring living entertainment, facilitating multiple yard games (Cornhole, Jenga, etc.), and putting out a spread of food that could feed a small town.

The diciest element to this yearly tradition is the weather. Late May is a toss-up - some years we've been blessed with July-like weather, where it's sunny in the high 70s or low 80s and everyone is soaking up the sun in shorts. Other years, the colder weather of late April or early May requires everyone to walk around in jeans and hoodies. Then there's the on-again/off-again rain you have to contend with, as this time of year is notorious for raining for weeks without letting up. 

Great for one's grass, sure, but not ideal for an outdoor party.

This year, unfortunately, we were hit with absolutely horrendous weather. It started to rain in the late morning and didn't let up until about twenty minutes before the party started. This brought the temperature down into the low/mid-60s, and everything was wet. A couple of the guys went over to Collier's in the late afternoon as the rain was letting up to help him set everything up quickly at the last minute, and fortunately by the time the party officially started at 5pm Collier's backyard was ready to go.

Still, on account of the far-from-ideal weather, turnout for this year's annual bash was considerably lower than usual. Lots of folks were out of town, and others just didn't turn out due to the lackluster conditions outside. Everyone still had a good time, sure, but it was definitely a more laid-back, low-key vibe this year compared to previous years. As such, and which you'll see you for yourself here in a sec, there's a lot less pics and video to show off this time around.

So I leave you now with what ended up being Collierpalooza '26. Enjoy. . .

As folks began to roll in around 5pm, the initial food spread was laid out on the Colliers' back deck and the man himself was manning two grills (hotdogs and brats on the Weber and burgers on the Blackstone.)

Folks loading up plates.

As always, Collier had set up multiple tables and canopies along the side of the deck so folks had a place to eat.

Women and children prefer to eat at tables, while the dads just kinda hover around the food table eating where they stand.

As the first round of plates were finished off, folks migrated into the backyard to start off a series of Cornhole games.

Tom and Mitch (probably talking about golf.)

Abby, Ella and Logan showed up about a half an hour later (once they had finished getting ready, of course.)

The canopy in the far back there was the christened 'man hangout area,' equipped with a kegorator full of Miller Lite and a few standing tables.

The view from the man tent.

The stage, board, and fire pit area.

The previous artists that Collier had reserved in the previous years were all booked (or otherwise declined the offer to return, not sure why - I think we're a fun bunch.) He ended up booking a duo of female singers that perform with guitars, but one of them had to cancel at the last minute. This left us with one chick who performed angry lesbian music from the 90s all night - far from ideal.

Cornhole continues. . .

The older kids here at this table were playing some sorta game (I didn't walk over there to check it out, though - sorry.)

Collier's kegorator is unfortunately a bust - after multiple attempts to dial it in over the course of half a dozen parties since last summer, he's never been able to get the temperature cool enough, so he's going to end up junking it. Cory offered to bring his over instead (shown here) which worked flawlessly throughout the course of the evening. . . until we polished the quarter-barrel off.

Collier and Erik

Once the adults had finished their initial games, the Hough girls teamed up against their respective boyfriends in a game. . .

Logan tosses a bag.

They need some practice. It's inexcusable they're not better at this, considering we have boards at home they can practice on.

Some of the spread (in hindsight I should have removed the foil off these dishes so you can see everything, but I didn't feel like putting that much effort into this.)

More of the spread.

The battle rages on.

Mitch stands by, giving pointers ('cause it's Mitch.)

Big E, The Pro, and The Colonel.

The angry lesbian music continues as Collier lights the fire for the evening.

Hanging out with Mitch and Tom in the dude tent.

As the evening dragged on, and the temperature started to drop, folks began to gravitate around the fire.

Broke out my newly-acquired Rancid hoodie for this evening (the skull on the back is from their 1998 album, Life Won't Wait.)

At this point, as it started to get darker out, kids either zeroed in on the bounce house or else went indoors, leaving the adults to hang out around the fire.

Folks kept piling wood on this thing, so we had a solid funeral pyre going for like three hours or so.

Sebastian and the Cannonball.

Cory had wasted an entire case of Miller Lite, dumping it all out and not drinking any of it (not sure why) in order to create 'cups' for Collier's keg. This little gadget here open the top of a standard beer can without creating sharp edges (I'm guessing due to those little doo-hickies in the center), so you can drink keg Miller Lite out of a Miller Lite can. Kind of a cool, little toy.

Ella definitely being a Fifth Wheel, here.

Mees gets a couples pic of ours kids and their respective male counterparts.

Cannonball group selfie.

Later on in the evening, this is how we closed out the night for the last couple hours.

Adding even more wood to the fire (Collier was starting to get nervous we'd go through his entire reserve of firewood this evening, and the way Cory kept adding wood to this thing you'd think that was the plan all along.)

Overseeing fire safety protocols.

Took a pic of this rager to send to Morgan, who, by far, builds the biggest fires of this group (they decided to stay back this evening and hang out around the house, so they didn't turn out this year.)

Sebastian grills up some more brats over the fire (this kid ate, like, eight dinners and was still hungry - I don't know how his parents keep him and his twin brother fed.)

So there you go, gang - that's this year's Collierpaooza. Kris and I took off around 11:30pm or so, seeing how I had to be up somewhat early the next morning for the Midland Memorial Day Parade, which Erik and I would once again be marching in a long with the Midland Freemasons. Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment. . .

- Brian