Connecting with Fiesta royalty

I've written before about our wonderfully accomplished niece, English horn and oboe player extraordinaire with our own San Antonio Symphony. But she got to perform on a very different stage during our latest Fiesta...

Those familiar with San Antonio's Fiesta traditions will be able to guess that she was indeed one of the Battle of Flowers parade's duchesses, moving regally through downtown and showing everyone her shoes. (By the way, she can write, too. Here's a fine piece she wrote for a local online magazine that eloquently links her Fiesta and musical careers, as well as making a very strong case for the importance of music and the arts in community life.)

The shoes bit might sound a little strange, but it's part of the tradition. At some point in the past, parade-

goers began to chant "show us your shoes" to the passing royalty. Presumably because under those long dresses and trains, one wonders what could be hidden in the way of footwear. Year by year, the parade participants have gotten into the spirit of the affair and often wear elaborate cowboy boots and other fancy clogs. And, sometimes, silly shoes as well.

That's what Jennifer opted for this year. On the left you can see her posing with her Big-Bird-like floppy slippers. Quite a contrast to the amazing clothing, but that's the whole idea!

Besides, the whole royalty thing in its entirety is rather silly, anyway. But it provides a great deal of harmless entertainment for a great many people (attendance at the parade, when the weather's nice, regularly runs north of a quarter of a million!).

And, the dresses and trains are really amazing works of art. It's hard to argue against a tradition that results in the construction of these fabulous garments. Here are closeups of the end of Jennifer's train, as well as that of her sister's (from a few years ago). Their parents had them on display at their house last week for a fun oohh-ing and aahh-ing party.

Jennifer's train

Laura's

They really are exquisite artifacts, lovingly hand-made by what must be an army of very talented seamstresses.

But they weigh a ton! The logistics of getting the ladies in position, and providing them with the support needed to stand and wave and show shoes for 3+ hours is quite an operation. Which is why it's such fun to see the staging area for the parade (in addition to seeing and hearing all those bands warm up, as I told you last week).

On the right you can see the perch that Jennifer would soon occupy, with her train already in position and fastened securely. The girls can lean against this support but have nothing to sit down upon during the parade (not to mention the rather lengthy preparatory process). It made my legs and back hurt just to contemplate this ordeal, but, then, they are young and strong.

Here is how she gets up there! By forklift, no less! Perhaps not the most dignified piece of machinery, but it works well to accomplish getting the duchesses to their perches...

...and here's how the floats are powered. A friendly technician lifted up the concealing panel to give us a glimpse of the little golf-cart-type vehicle that tows each float.

After the forklift ride, here she is, in position, resplendent and ready to go...

...practicing showing the shoes...

...and demonstrating the royal wave

Although we, of course, thought Jennifer's dress, train, shoes, and waving were the most accomplished in the parade, there were three other royal ladies on her float. In almost as magnificent attire...

And here they all are, heading out from under the nice shady freeway staging area and out into the San Antonio sun, ready to entertain the thousands breathlessly awaiting their entrance. ¡Viva Fiesta!