Story By Sharon Dominguez. Photos by Paul Duncan, Sharon Dominguez and Lorna Azevedo           

December 3rd finally arrived and many of us were getting excited about being in the annual Corrales Starlight Parade. We met at Larry & Lorna Azevedo’s house at 4 pm to decorate the cars and drive as a group to the staging area for the parade. For once the weatherman was correct, and it began to rain a very slow but steady drizzle right at 4 pm. Being die hard Model T people, we didn’t let that deter us from participating in the parade. We arrived at the staging area and the rain picked up a little more. The parade was not to start until 5:30, but the powers that be decided to start it a little bit earlier (around 5:15pm). Good thing because some of us were getting soaked. We had 5 beautifully decorated T’s (and a couple of Model A’s) in the parade:

Dave Ferro with his 1918 Depot Hack. He had three riders who were the winner of Sharron Geilenfeldt’s auction of a Model T ride for the Corrales holiday parade to benefit her granddaughter’s ballet; Larry Azevedo in his plumbers truck with passenger Don Neidigk; Andy Andrews drove the Azevedo 1912 with passengers Lorna and Fran along with Jackie the Dalmatian; Mark & Sharon Dominguez drove their 1925 Tudor with new members Dario Iberra and Austin Pisano, along with Don Neidigk’s grandson Ben; Susan & Kirk Peterson in “Buster”; Phil & Jessica Lance drove their 1927 Tudor; Bill & Louise Robinson (who are Tin Lizzie members) drove their Model A as well as Billie & Dan Pyzel who joined us for the parade in their Model A.

After the parade we returned to the Big Barn at the Azevedo’s where we found a small group of Tin Lizzies huddled around the wood burning stove to stay warm.

The dinner menu for the evening consisted of salad, bread sticks, Spaghetti with meat sauce, Southwest chicken pasta and Lasagna. Dessert was Brownies and Ice Cream Sundaes. the Italian pasta dishes were from Mario’s. There were RSVP’s of 49, but the weather kept a few folks away. We ended up with 38 in attendance, so “care packages” were made for most of those who did not make it, and what was left after that was sent home with those who were there.

After dinner, President Mark Dominguez presented the President’s Award to Phillip and Jessica Lance for their outstanding support of the Tin Lizzies in 2022.

Then came time for Larry Azevedo to swear in the 2023 Officers and Board of Directors. With a tongue in cheek oath, and one hand on a Ford Model T Manual, the following members became club officers and board members: Mark Dominguez President; Vaughn Rockafellow VP; Jessica Lance Secretary; Kirk Peterson Treasurer; Directors: Dave Ferro, Jeff Richards and Phil Lance.

The table decorations made by Sharon Dominguez featured a battery driven snow man (donated by Betty Housholder) along with a solar powered lamppost.

 The rain was still coming down when it was time to leave, making it difficult to negotiate the turn leaving the field behind the shop. Some needed help, but in the end we all got out and made it home to dry out and get warm.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this an enjoyable evening for the entire club.