It’s May. According to local people in Princeton, we are already in the early summer, and the weather is agreeable…… sometimes.

There are days when the temperature shoots up to some 80 degree Farenheit (around 28 degree Celcius), but it’s still not uncommon for it to linger around the 60s (15-something degree in Celcius) for half of the days in a week.

Although the weather is everything but “summer” for me, the flowers must find it delightful, like these peony blossoms I found in the Prospect Garden on Princeton campus.

Besides the flowers, the bunnies, and our perrenial friends, the squirrels, something else popped up on the lawns throughout the campus.

The tents, the stages, and fleets of golf carts.

Princeton University is preparing for the most festive event in the year, the Princeton alumni reunion.

The website of Princeton Alumni Association says that,

Reunions weekend attracts nearly 25,000 alumni, family and friends for walks, talks, community service projects, Alumni Faculty Forums, picnics, parties, concerts, dancing, meeting old friends, making new ones, and, of course, marching in the P-rade!

This year, the events was held between May 31 and June 3, with the Saturday (June 2) being the climax, when the P-rade and the must-see fireworks show took place. So, I went to the campus right on June 2 to breath the joyful air with some friends from the association of Taiwanese students.

Not surprisingly, the campus was crowded. Princeton graduates proudly displayed their graduation souvenir jackets, and many of the other attendees wore at least a piece of orange clothing. Wearing a Princeton polo shirt just bought from the university store a few weeks ago, I am one of them.

The bright orange sports car, the floats with hilarious themes (My favorite was the one titled “20,000 Ivy Leagues Under the Sea“, I appreciate the humor!), and the Scottish band in their kilts were all ready to rock and roll. The symbol of Princeton University, an orange tiger, can be seen everywhere in various forms, and all these tigers were ready for the P-rade.

…… but then we received the security alert from the university.

Less than half an hour later, the university issued an “ALL CLEAR” notice, but the P-rade didn’t resume. Too bad it was cancelled, I’d like to see those adorable floats in action!

Since it was still hours before the next event, my group went for some snacks. We had ice cream at Halo Pub, and dined at Triumph Brewing Company.

When it was 19:00, my group idled towards the stadium. On the way, there was a tent featuring a pirate theme, and offered free pirate captain hats, so I grabbed one.

I’m not sure if it looks nice on me,
but it definitely looks fabulous on the head of my proboscis monkey.

Finally, we reached the stadium, sat on the lawn, which thankfully wasn’t wet despite the brief thunderstorm in the afternoon, and enjoyed the most anticipated event other than the P-rade:

the Princeton University Orchestra concert
and the reunion fireworks.

To make this blog post a tidbit more informative, let me share the concert program:

• “The Star-Spangled Banner” (To non-US readers: this is the national anthem of the US)
• Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34, by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
• Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs), Op. 20, by Pablo de Sarasate
• Konzertstück in F Major for Four Horns and Orchestra, Op. 86, by Robert Schumann
• Concerto for Clarinet, by Artie Shaw
• “The Washington Post March“
• “The Stars and Stripes Forever“: obviously, both songs are patriotic American marches
• “Old Nassau“: the school anthem of Princeton University

After the concert, the sun was at last completely set,
so it was time for the fireworks.

There were 12 pieces of choreography devoted to selected reunion themes or nation-wide memorable events. Each choreography was accompanied by a music clip ranging from classical to movie themes to pop hits old and new.

However, the only song I recognized was “Skull & Crossbones” from Pirates of the Caribbean. My new pirate captain hat turned out to be an opportune accessory for the fireworks!

The display of all 12 sections lasted for around 23 minutes, and was utterly spectacular. It was as spectacular as one would expect from one of the richest university in the world.
I must confess a guilty pleasure as I, a research specialist instead of an undergraduate student, was paid to see bunches after bunches of cash fired into the night sky, exploded, and dissipated into thin air.
I was impressed by the fireworks display. When a poet got impressed, s/he writes a poem. When a composer got impressed, s/he comes up with a piece of melody.

When I got impressed, I draw a girl in anime style.

Tiger, fireworks, and a pirate captain hat.

This is my first-ever Princeton reunion night, and the three elements above are the constituents of this precious memory.