Just some of the
Wonderful  People
That we met in Mason City

These two lovely ladies are so interesting to talk to.
Tula and Kula greet Shirley and Rosemary Willson during the parade.
The folks of Mason City know them as the Karrant Twins.
Born on June 18th, 1918, Tula and Kula were pre-mature and
weighed only five pounds. They were born at home and the doctor said
"They won't last through the night". Then they were placed on a makeshift
incubator, the open door of the kitchen oven, for extra warmth.
Well, not only did they survive, they have thrived.
Tula and Kula have always been the healthiest in their large family.


Hi Kim! That's Kimberly Goranson -AKA-"The Whistler!"
Kim and her family were seated at my table. I must explain for those who have not yet
caught one of Shirley's concerts, that she performs the Disney tune
"Give A Little Whistle" at almost all of her performances.
Shirley asks the audience to help out, since she can't whistle all that well.
Well, Kim has no problem with that. She does one of those incredible
two finger whistles that blows your socks off! Seriously, it was great. Shirley loves it!

Pictured to the right are Kayla Halfpap and Jonathan Swenson.
They were chosen to portray Marion Paroo and Harold Hill for the Mason City Parade.
They were fabulous. That nice man in the other photograph was our parade driver, Bill Seeger.
(I hope I have everyone's name spelled correctly!) Bill drove his own beautiful candy apple red Cadillac.
The man who drove Shirley in the 1962 Mason City - Music Man Parade is

Dave Miller, pictured here in full uniform.

This sign hung neatly over a railroad bridge toward the end of the parade route.
I had to do a double take, because at first your mind thinks Mason City.
Frankly, the two are one and the same. You really are in  Meredith Willson's
River City, Iowa when you visit Mason City.
The lovely home you see, is where Shirley and entourage were allowed to relax
and get out of the bright sun for a little while after the parade. Beautiful House!

*
*That's Shirley and Ron at Meredith Willson's boyhood home,
The band stand in East Park.
An incredible residence right on the river that was
designed by one of Frank Lloyd Wright's students,
and there's someone's adorable dog in the top right corner!

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