Monday, August 20, 2007

Carilion Riverfest


The Carilion Riverfest was a public event celebrating the move of the pediatric and obstetric services from Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital one mile away. For those of us who have been around a while this is really a move back to CRMH - the peds/obstetric services were moved from Roanoke Memorial to Community in the late 1980s. That move was done with little fanfare and minimal public notice - I was a new graduate working at Community Hospital then and remember little communication either to the employees or the public. This time around I think the public and employees have been well informed and support this move.....I look forward to seeing all acute care services under one roof again. A parade began the festivities with


A doctor riding a unicycle...
Another doctor on a bike....
Floats depicting body systems ...... lungs.....
Heart......
And a crowd favorite - the endoscopy lab's colon float....
Complete with polyps.....
Tropical themes...

Cartoon characters....

Could Ronald McDonald be hanging his head in shame about the high fat food that is so blatantly advertised to kids?
Music....

Clowns in old cars....
Politicians.... hummm...funny that I placed the clown picture just above...


Police officers on horses...

The parade ended with Roanoke's very own Elvis riding a bike!

I picked up a paper nurses' cap that was given out to the children. I still have my nurse's cap from school but haven't worn it since graduation. Interestingly, a group of nurses at the hospital have started wearing their caps (not required). Say what you will, when you see a white cap you can identify who the nurse is. My nod to tradition is that I always wear white pants with my scrub tops. I am also starting to wear white tops as well - when you see the person in brown delivering packages you know they are from UPS. Shouldn't RNs be as readily identifiable?


My favorite catch was the Fleet's enema man stuffed toy. I will have some fun with this!


After the parade I walked to Wildflour Restaurant for a tasty veggie burrito with fresh greens and home made salsa.
Back to the fairgrounds I had another Elvis sighting!


Lots of children's activities....

Finally the highlight of my evening - Delbert McClinton in concert - this 67 year old man can rock with a liberal helping of the blues.


What a wonderful day!