Sunday, September 6, 2009

Booker at the Minnesota State Fair

Booker went to the Minnesota State Fair this week to be part of the Minnesota Reads Together parade. I admit I was a little nervous. What if she broke down on me on the way there or on the way home or (God forbid!) DURING the parade? I annoyed the city mechanic so much about whether she was fit to go that he actually left on vacation so as not to have to hear about it anymore. He did NOT come back in time to come rescue me. (Duly noted.)

I took our library's Children's Programming Librarian with me. I figured if I had to chance breaking down in front of a crowd of hundreds of thousands of people, I had to have moral support. She's a real trooper, and a pretty good navigator, too, and we were determined to have some fun. I proposed eating our way through the fair, but she was the voice of reason and only let me eat every other thing on a stick I could find.

Come parade time we lined up with the MELSA folks and the Radio Disney Dancers. What a great bunch of people! They were all happy to wait inside the bookmobile with the generator, and therefore the a/c, running full blast so they didn't have to endure the heat and dust of the parking lot. On the right are some pictures. Take note of the one of the kids in the bus. And look - they're reading!

The moment of truth arrived and the parade began. We had just pulled into the fairgrounds when lo and behold, one of my Lapsit dads with his 15 month old son on his shoulders, was standing a couple feet out in the parade route with a broad grin on his face making sure I would see them! I was so excited to see someone I knew in the massive crowd, I hollered, "Hey W---!" to the little dude as I waved, grinning madly. I'd give anything for a picture of W's face at that moment. His brow was furrowed and you could see the wheels turning in his little head as he pondered what in the world Ms. Diana was doing driving that bus in this place. Can't wait to see him and his dad at the next Lapsit and give 'em a big high five.

We saw the M's from Lonsdale next and my navigator screams at me, "There's the M's!" and got so excited she pushed the wrong button on the camera and missed getting their picture. I waved wildly at them and yelled, "Hey M's!" though I doubt they could see or hear me from their seats on the curb.

Well, you get the picture. We did NOT break down - Booker carried us valiantly all the way there and back without a hitch. Mechanic Man said to me when I saw him the next day, "I told you she would make it." (Yes, but he wasn't the one in the hot seat now was he?!?!) Next time - if there is a next time - I get that in writing. (I know you're reading this and I am not kidding!)

I sure hope we get invited back. The cool indoor comfort afforded by the generator and a/c alone should clinch it.