Tybee's High Water Mark

My favorite Beach Bum Parade moment occurred when County Commission Chairman Robert McCorkle showed up thinking it was a real parade. Sitting atop a convertible, wearing a suit, he was prepared to wave and smile at the constituents who put him in office. He had no idea that the Parade is a giant water fight. Those in the parade shoot water at those watching the parade who in turn fire back Of course this is Tybee. While a great deal of water is used, it the second most popular liquid utilized on Parade day. Back in the early days there were no restrictions on how water could be delivered from marches to spectators or vise versa. So the look on Chairman McCorkles face when he realized that the three soaking wet guys who jumped in front of the convertible with the red water balloons were actually going to throw them at him was ... just friggen priceless. The three took aim. The Chairman's mouth dropped open. He hugged his chest as through it would save the dark three piece suit with grey pinstripes. Then it was a slow motion seen out of a movie. The crowd noise disappeared. The Chairman screamed "NO!" ... like a girl. The three wet dudes in cut off bluejeans threw in rapid succession. Then the noise reappears. PLOP! PLOP! PLOP! Followed by the approving roar of the crowd. That was the last time County Commission Chairman Bob McCorkle attended a Beach Bum Parade. Afterwards he did attempt ... unsuccessfully I might add ... to have Tybee Island kicked out of Chatham County. The popularity of giving it sticking it to our elected offices ... just like they'd been sticking it to us ... proved too popular. It was a water-shed moment. There are other great moments. Batman and Robin roller skating down Butler Avenue. Johnny O on a float wearing swim goggles and a lime green thong ... and nothing else. The year the final entry in the Beach Bum Parade was the Tybee Island Volunteer Fire Department in full gear on the truck ... hosing down the crowd. I am proud to have been a Beach Bum. Jack Boylston was my next door and lost his mind, inviting me to join the soft ball team (a term which I use loosely). Jiggs Watson kicked me off the team several weeks later because I actually tried to play softball during a game. Still ... I remain proud to have been a part and still use the jersey to wash my car as a way of saying thanks. So today's the Beach Bum Parade on Tybee. The elected officials are doing everything in their power to kill it but they're all wet anyway. As a populist movement, it continues to grow becoming a real high water mark on the islands appeal. So Happy Beach Bum Parade everybody! Oh ... and if you to pee during the parade ... go ahead. No one will notice.