SUZY STUMP: DAFFODIL GRAND FLORAL PARADE >>>

The transformation takes place in an instant. A timid 14-year-old drops her smile, tilts her hat forward, lifts a whistle to her lips, and voila: drill sergeant.

With two sharp shrills, she takes command of her dance squad, a gaggle of 40 kids who snap into six neat columns, chins up, eyes forward.

“Drill team, atten-shun!  Atten-SHUN!  I want everyone to bounce. I want you to jump!  Why aren’t you in parade rest? Don’t be scratchin’ your nose. I said parade rest!”

Dad Scorseses huff down the street filming the budding starlets.

Saturday, April 12 the 75th Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Street Parade will pass through the downtowns of Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner and Orting.  It’s your typical town parade with marching bands, high school floats, little kids dressed as the young Elvis, big flatbed trucks with a bunch of people sitting on bales of hay. And what would a Daffodil parade be without the fun-loving Realtors dressed as houses? â€" Suzy Stump

[Various locations, April 12 10:15 a.m., Pacific Avenue between 11th and 19th in downtown Tacoma; 12:45 p.m., Fifth and Seventh Avenue Southwest, downtown Puyallup; 2:30 p.m., Kincaid Avenue and Main Street, downtown Sumner; 5 p.m., Bridge Street and Washington, downtown Orting; 253.627.6176]

LINK: The Gray Sky Blues Festival begins after the Tacoma parade.

Freecycle is an online win-win situation. People who have stuff they want out of their lives post their goods online, then people who are looking for free stuff can search through tons of listings to make their life complete. It's like a giant free box of stuff.  All this occurs in cyberspace, but this weekend at the Puyallup Fairgrounds, Freecycle steps into the real world at the Pierce County Livable Communities Fair Saturday, April 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Freecycle's goal is to save items from reaching the landfill while creating community. Fair organizers estimate 15,000-20,000 people will attend this environment friendly and knowledge-increasing event. Plus, Ciscoe Morris, the madcap master gardener, will be broadcasting live on KIRO 710, which is sure to add more fun and hilarious mirth. Admission and parking is free, but do the right thing and bring a canned food item for the Rescue Mission. The Freecycle booth will be located on the first floor of the Pavilion and manned by area volunteers. Enter the Gold Gate entrance at Ninth Avenue S.W. and Meridian, Puyallup. - Jennifer Johnson