The Schochoh Christmas parade will be held will be on December 5th. The theme of this year’s parade is “A Simply Schochoh Christmas” and will feature things unique to the Schochoh community. Grand Marshals for the 2010 parade are Mr. and Mrs. Willis and Edna Schrock. The Schrocks have done so much for our community and deserve this honor. Miss Schochoh is Sidney Mimms. Little Mr. and Miss Schochoh are Adeline Castile and Colton Kelley.

After the parade a barbecue will be held at the community center. This is a free event but donations are always welcome. Sweatshirts for the Christmas parade will be on sale Saturday, December 4 at the Adairville Christmas Market and also the day of the parade. The cost of the sweatshirt is $15. There will be an auction of baked goods and other items at the barbecue.

This year we will also feature two raffle items. The first is a Henry Golden Boy .22 rifle, valued at $600. The second item is a “Night Out” package including a $50 gift card to Outback Steakhouse, a $25 Visa gift card and a relaxation fountain. This package is valued at $95. Raffle tickets are 1 ticket for $5, 3 tickets for $10 or 8 tickets for $20. Raffle tickets will be available at the Adairville Christmas Market, the pancake breakfast, the day of the parade or call me at 726-7361. The drawing will be held at the barbecue following the Christmas parade. Raffle tickets are going quickly so don’t miss out! You do not have to be present to win. The Christmas parade takes a lot of organization, so if you can volunteer your time, please call me.

Notes from Schochoh: I learned a very valuable lesson this week; never say never. Last week in this column I detailed my holiday shopping strategy which involved not going to the mall or Wal-Mart.

All was well until my Daddy pulled the Wal-Mart sales book that came in the Tuesday paper. Daddy spotted a Shop-Vac for $15. Apparently this is the male equivalent of finding a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes for $15.

I must tell you that my Daddy is early to bed and early to rise. I told him if he wanted to go the Wal-Mart in the middle of the night I would go with him. I did not think that he would be able to stay awake until the appointed time for the sale, which began at 12:01 a.m. I was wrong. At 11 p.m. he put on this coat and hat and suggested we go ahead so we could get the good stuff we sought.

We left home in the pouring down rain and drove to Wal-Mart. Daddy developed a strategy on the way to the store. He reasoned that we would pick up the Shop-Vac, put in the cart and be waiting in line to pay for the purchase at 12:01 a.m. Evidently 500 other people had the same idea. We found the elusive Shop-Vac but we ran into a tiny problem. There was a sign on the stack of Shop-Vacs that said “Do Not Remove Item until 12:01 a.m.”

The pallets on which the Holy Grail was presented was guarded by diligent Wal-Mart employees.

The store made an announcement at 12:01 and 500 coffee fueled people that were in the store sprang to life. Daddy grabbed a Shop-Vic and away to the check out counter we went. Fortunately, there was not a line. We paid for our purchase and made a bee line for the car. The rain had turned to ice, sleet and snow. During the ride home I told Daddy this was a one time deal. It would not become a part of our Thanksgiving tradition.

He smiled and said “Until next year.”