It seems I'm always looking forward to something. This weekend it's having a booth at the Jackass Mail Run. This is the beginning of Rodeo Weekend in Springville, CA. This particular event begins at noon with booths lining Main Street. (The part of Highway 190 that goes through town.) My booth will be in front of the dentist's office.
Most everyone will be dressed up like cowboys or saloon girls of the Old West. If a woman wears pants, she might be thrown in jail. If a man doesn't have a beard, the same thing will happen to him. It can get pretty rowdy, but not nearly as bad as it was when we first moved here, and the drunks took over by late afternoon.
There'll be some local bands playing and games for the kids. Plus it costs a buck to get out of jail if you're caught breaking the only two laws that are enforced. About 100 horse and riders will come up 190, having started in Porterville (17 miles) in the morning, escorting the mail wagon. Some of these folks do too much drinking along the way and get a bit wild. Sheriff's cars escort them as well as an SPCA truck and horse trailer.
When the mail wagon reaches Springville around 3:30 or 4, they are attacked by bandits. Lots of gun fire. Sometimes the Civil War Calvary gets in on it and shoots a cannon. The bandits drop dead in the street, but miraculously rise to fire again. It gets pretty darn noisy.
Most of the booths are manned by people selling food and trinkets. Our youth group will have a booth with popcorn and cotton candy. I'll be there hoping that, among the attendees, a reader or two might drop by and take a peek at my books. One thing I do know, is that there will be some folks I know who I haven't seen for awhile and they'll stop and chat.
After all that excitement, there's a dance in the Inn. I won't be attending. After being outside all afternoon, I'll pack up my books and head for home.
The next day, I'm having a visitor, a dear writing friend, Willma Gore. She taught me more about writing than anyone else while we attended the same critique group for many years. She moved to Sedona AZ a few years ago, and I've only seen her a couple of times since. We'll have all Sunday afternoon and evening as well as Monday a.m. to bring each other up-to-date. I can hardly wait.
Next on my agenda, is the Public Safety Writers conference in Las Vegas.
Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com
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