It's become custom at season's end with the last boat loading to have a Halloween contest.
It brings to mind a few funny tales. Andrew Lafolette a few years ago was unaware of the contest. He arrived with no costume while his boatmates were dressed like masculine ballerinas to combat veterans in camouflage. Andy, being of quick wit, grabbed a traffic barrel and disappeared into the shed, only to emerge with arms and face protruding from a 55-gallon orange traffic barrel after his handiwork with a knife. Well, Andy won the contest for originality and wit.
Rowing under the bridge that evening produced more honks than we'd ever received. As a coach, I wondered how all those drivers could see that the kids had such perfect catches because they certainly should not have honked at a hairy chested ballerina.
But alas, times have changed from those simpler days of yesteryear. Now it's popular among teenage girls to look, well, trashy at Halloween. While some might call it sexy, I think of it as a strip bar dress code and we don't need no stickin' strip bar dress WCrew. So ladies, please do not even consider arriving with anything that might be so suggestive. If you do, bring your cell phone to call for a ride home.
And Bobby, don't even think about coming as a ballerina. I'll call you mother.
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