John & Sandy Mucci - Meredith, NH 03253 Email  www.johnedwards2004.com

The Willises live quite a way out of the center of town. Our directions read

You will pass through downtown Derry (Maryann’s, etc.)
At rotary, take 2nd RIGHT onto E. Derry Rd.
Follow this road until Spollett Dr.

We finally did arrive at the Willis', but it looked almost deserted. Beverly looked quite surprised to see us. Evidently, we had the wrong house. Senator Edwards had planned to go for a morning run from her home and freshen up before the parade, but the parade preparations were going on at the Werner's house. She also told us that she had just received a call and the Senator had been delayed and wouldn't be running this morning but was hustling to make it to the parade. She handed Sandy and I a plate of warm, fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies and we headed back to Derry, proper, and the Werner's house.

The Werner's Home - Derry, New Hampshire. This was the pre-parade gathering spot. It's right on the parade route and was about 3 blocks from our staging area.	Prior to the parade, we broke out rolls, about 100 each, of stickers for hand-out as we marched along the parade route.
For the Derry Holiday Parade, we wore these stickers and passed them out along with candy canes promoting the the Town Hall Meeting at the Werner's after the parade.	The staging area for the Edwards truck was down at the end of this line. Note the patches of blue sky and dark, dark gray clouds.
The John Edwards Toy Drive package is loaded. More to be added....	Sara works on attaching the bow to the top of the box. The wind made setup very, very difficult.
We attached a large wreath, with red ribbon to the front of the grill and hung a smaller wreath from each cab window of the truck.	Several John Edwards signs added to the back of the Toy Drive package.
After the truck was pretty well set up, we headed back to the Werner's house. Their house was located on Broadway, just before the parade "start" location. People were milling around, waiting for the parade to begin. State Senator Lou D'Allesandro arrived. Photographers and reporters gathered. Because of the location, we were able to join the truck as it rolled in front of the Werner's house. The sun began to shine more reliably, but the wind kept blowing.
People were milling around at the Werner's waiting for the parade to start.	We know this young fellow would vote for Senator Edwards if he could.
The crowd grew and State Senator Lou D'Allesandro arrived.	Senator Edwards arrived with 15 minutes to spare. He put his coat on pretty quickly.
The parade is starting to bear down on the Senator.	... but the Edwards' truck has not popped from the staging area yet.
Senator Edwards even had a little time to answer questions from the press	and greet the neighbors.
We all begin to line up for the parade through downtown Derry. Christmas music is blaring through a sound system shoved into the club seat of the truck. Marchers will be handing out candy canes with notices of the Tilton Town Hall Meeting at 8:00 in the evening. During the parade, my friend from New York City, who was staying with my sister in Rye, called Christy's cell to let us know he was coming to the Werner's to see Senator Edwards. We had invited him on Thanksgiving. We were very pleased to bring another supporter to the campaign.
Now it's time to line 'em up!	The march is on... Unfortunately, this one's too blurry.
Traffic jam in town.	Moving again.
Greeting the firemen.	Now we're holding up the parade while the Senator takes time to greet some supporters.
As I mentioned above, the Senator has tons of energy. He was running, back and forth, across the street shaking hands and talking with people.	Who's that cool guy in the back with the sun glasses?
More hand shaking and	more wind blowing. The Senator got his run in during the parade instead of before the parade.
After the parade we found rides back to the Werner's house for the Town Hall Meeting and tons of cookies and brownies and delicious hot cider. My friend, Steve was their along with his wife and his baby. Steve had also brought my niece Jennifer and her boyfriend with him. By the time we arrived, the Senator was taking questions.
Senator Edwards delivers "Real Solutions." The room was small and packed with about 30 people spilling out into the kitchen.	Steve, Senator Edwards, Zengy, and Coumi. My niece, Jennifer, is barely visible over Steve's left shoulder.
The parade in Manchester had been cancelled because of high winds. I did get up to Manchester a little later. Senator Edwards held a Town Hall Meeting in the Manchester Campaign Headquarters. I was a little late and the old wooden floors of the building creaked so loudly that I decided to take a few shots from outside and head for Oliver's Restaurant in Tilton where the Senator was scheduled to hold a Town Hall Meeting at 8:00. This man has so much energy!
State Campaign Headquarters in Manchester, third floor.	Totems resting in street-level entryway.
To Town Hall Meeting at Oliver's Restaurant in Tilton, New Hamspshire --->