The fest
Judy Conlin
Every year it seems a little harder to drag all my books and bookselling paraphernalia downtown for the Pumpkin Fest, despite all the help I get.
It’s not only dragging the supplies; it is more difficult to drag this old body. With parking close to the events impossible on Fest Day, it becomes a guessing game as to how many blocks my poor old knees, my poor old heart, and my poor old lungs will be able to manage to get me there. Yet, I have refused to give in to a wheelchair, a walker or even a cane, but I don’t think I’m fooling anyone when I arrive limping and gasping for breath. No one believes I’m a young professional reporting for duty.
Once there, and all set up, however, I think it would be impossible to find anyone having a better time than Nurse Judy and I. I love asking where the folks passing are from. It is always amazing how far people travel to our little town for this event. Nurse Judy loves telling them that she wrote all the books spread out on our tabletop. This, of course, is a lie. I wrote the books without one bit of help from her.
Nevertheless, I don’t correct her because I am too modest to praise myself, and her comments do get folks interested in looking at all these books SHE wrote.
I also am delighted watching all the children and pets in their holiday costumes. If the grownups allow it, I have candy for the kids and treats for the animals. Apparently, my treat choice was amiss as most dogs spit out their ribeye dog trat. I must try filet mignon next year. The children were happy with their lollipops. In fact, they began bringing all their friends over in droves threatening my supply, but we made it through the day. I had nothing to give the one goat that sashayed by.
People commented on how nice it was to have cool weather. I hate the cold and swathed myself in sweaters, shawls and other coverings, my orange mouse ears on my head the only thing making me visible to passersby. Every now and then the wind kicked up and toppled my displays and sent books careening down the walkway. Good Samaritans returned them to the catatonic wapped up figure behind my display table.
Around noon, my booth became extremely popular. It was surrounded by folks, mostly men, which sent Nurse Judy into a tailspin. If there is anything she loves more than male attention, I don’t know what it is, but on this day, the wind had done a number on both her hair and dress and she was beside herself trying to present herself as the diva she thinks she is. It really was a waste of her time because the crowd was not there because of an interest in her. It was my little portable radio tuned to the Seminoles game that was attracting them.
Since it was impossible for all of them to crowd around that little radio, I appointed myself as an announcer and began shouting out what was happening on the field to the crowd. Due to the fact that I am not a football expert, and that the crowd was very loud, I did give some inaccurate information. At one point I announced that the Noles were up by 2 scores. The Seminoles lost the game and at no point were they up by 2 touchdowns which must have confused some people when they were later informed about the game by their TVS at home with real announcers. All I can say is that I did my best.
I went home exhausted, took a hot bath, and went to bed. I had a great time, sold some books, and met some old friends as well as made new ones. Thank you, Havana, for making our little town rise to such big challenges. You should be so proud for pulling off another successful event. I am happy that I had a tiny part in your day. Nurse Judy loved the attention and has vowed to wear frownies every day until the Christmas festival so she will be more attractive. I’m not telling her that she’s wasting her time.
More later,
