Friday, 27 Sept, 1996, about 3pm, I finished packing (my kind of packing takes a whole 10 minutes), and headed out. Left instructions for Joanne (my rediscovered flickvan from 1979) who would meet me Sunday. My dear pickup hummed down the back roads I so love to take, out towards the central valley. Traffic was light all the way through to Livermore, and merely heavy until I approached the Sacramento turn-off near 4pm. I was very happy that I didn't take the Sacramento turn-off. The remainder of the trip was easy. It's the same route I take when I fly near Yosemite -- a pretty ride.
I arrived around 5pm, #3 from our group, got my meal ticket from the gate, saluted the cute High School Navy trainees and buzzed down towards the campsite. I parked in a nice spot (I sleep in the back of the truck), and proceeded to wander. Crystal had arrived just after me, so we teamed up. Lots of time to kill. I visited all the booths & chatted up everyone there. Lots of happy, vague acquaintances.
Pam's granddaughter, Witly, who had been my constant companion the previous year, was there, but in less need of adult company. She proudly announced that she was "this many" (5) and could explore the fair on her own, or in the company of 6 year-old Emma. I felt a tad superfluous, and proceeded to see who else was around. A few of the L.A. crowd, the Finns, lots of accordians.
Slowly, folks began to show up. By 8pm, we had six of the intended 18. We began to practice for our 8:15 performance. Mikkel, our fearless leader, came running at T - 5. Traffic had been *baaaaddd* ! We were seven. The music started and up we went, the six of us. We did quite a good job of the first few numbers. Then Mikkel, Zena, and Daniel came bouncing onto the stage in the middle of dance 5. Applause from the sparcely occupied bleachers. We finished in style.
Then some hanging out, chatting, missing dinner, etc. Jackie from LA arrived and we exchanged salutations. (Anita wanted us to ge together, but we concluded that we made better dance partners than the other kind.) The Vikings who had gotten engaged last year were now married. We were going to perform Falkval Lommanson for them later. Maybe. If. When. Visited with them for a while. They looked so happy. Not much else happened that evening, and we all crashed early.
Saturday... the *big* day of the fair! Russ has forgotten his coffee pot and we're forced to scrounge, stooping so low as to walk off with an entire thermos from the staff center. Desperate times... Then we dress up and pile into the pickup to drive downtown for the parade. We walked, we waved, we danced. (Dancing in the street is NOT easy.) The Viking-mobile behind us lost its steering, and its occupants were forced to walk, occasonially stopping to pick it up and point it in the right direction. Poor guys... (he-he).
Now it was time to wander around in the growing heat of the day, in-costume, and look picturesque. Chased Witly & Emma around in circles a bit, admired the dude sculpturing a log with chain saws. George the glass blower was fun to watch, though he wouldn't let me try. That glass is bloody hot. 'Course Liberty assured me that was nothing compared to the years he'd spent in the steel mills...
Had a beer, promptly crashed for two hours. Awoke just in time for our 5pm performance. We did a bang-up job, executing almost perfectly. Save for our fearless leader. So concerned about everyone being in place, Mikkel wasn't. Poor guy. He'll never live this one down. (Will you, Mikkel?) Next, it was onwards to the Viking camp, where we sang our way through our wedding performance. Rang up Joanne to give her directions. Left them with the baby sitter. Would she come? At the same time, I'd been keeping an eye out for Linda & Amanda who'd adopted me last year. Nowhere to be seen :-(
Watch the other dancers perform. All the groups are different. All quite good. THEN... evening comes! The visitors clear out, the booths close, and it's OUR TIME!! Out we come, on goes the music, everyone onto the stage! Dance, dance, dance the night through!! Out comes the "Iced Tea" and "Soda Pop", up got the smiles.
Somewhere around midnight, Mikkel remembers that the Finns had challenged us to do a skit. We have a good 10 minutes to figure one out. Under the circumstances, we do pretty well. At least we manage to get 20 people on stage singing that silly "We are Norwegians and we don't taste good" song.
Then the Big Sisters of Finland emerge. Seems they had recently been to Hawaii and learned the hula... Nothing quite like four rather large, rather inebriated Finns in grass skirts and strategically placed cocconut shells doing the hula. They concluded by dragging up a couple of "volunteers". I went screaming and kicking, but they were bigger. And they had sisu. I only had brandy.
Back to free dance. By 2 things had pretty well wound down, and it was just four of us and the security guard talking about tear gas and other exciting things. Zena told me the most amazing story which I have trouble believing... She claims that in the 50's, 90% of all US women fed their babies from bottles 100% of the time! I gently pointed out the insanity of such situation, but she held her ground. Told me some really bizarre stories about people and breasts.
Sunday. We're the first group on at 10:30. I can't even open my eyes. It was well after 3 before we hit the sack. Joanne was nowhere to be found. Then, guess what! Amanda!! My Turlockians were here after all! We did a flawless performance (even Mikkel made up for Saturday), sang our closing song, and we were free. I trapsed up and down with L&A, talking about everything. Amanda's 5th grade class had done a "Pioneer" weekend in Yosemite, in the pouring rain. How they loathed wet outhouses. Amanda still had straight A's.
Sunday winding down. I did some shopping for friends. Something for Joanne & kids, something for wife #1. Jody asked me to tell folks she had this men's blouse that the requester couldn't pay for (laid off). It was just my size. But she didn't take credit cards! Ran around in circles until I found Mikkel with a bulging wallet. Bummed $40 off of him and got my shirt.
L&A went off duty, and we kicked around for the rest of the day. Back to George, I asked their opinions of the different vases. But he didn't take cards either! (!@%#$^) Back to Mikkel we ran. Another $60? Maybe... he needed enough to buy a shirt... Scored. Back to George. Wrap it up nice and neat. Yes, a present for some friends. Birthday? Xmas? I didn't know. Asked Amanda if her birthday was coming up soon. (har, har, har!) Boy were they suprised! Best $50 I'd spent in a long time.
Finally it was over. A&M trudged homeward as vendors broke down. I entertained Witly as Pam and Dan packed up. Kids NEVER tire of being chased around in circles. Why is that? Driving through Patterson, I took the extra loop around the rotary before pulling into the ATM and replaying Mikkel. (Thanks, guy.) Turns out he didn't need the money anyway. Somebody else bought the blouse before he got there...
He curled up on the seat as best he could, and proceed to snore his way back to San Jose. I love that drive. So many nights I've come back from flying along those roads, they seem like old friends. Dropped off Mikkel, headed towards home. Hmmm... I wonder if Joanne is still up?