Day was spent catching up with friends

I had been looking forward to last Saturday for months. It was time for the annual carving show, but more importantly, time for our annual visit with our old friends.
Barb and I had worked together many years ago in a county lab in southern Ohio. We have talked each other through moves, job changes, husband changes, religion changes, child problems, more remodeling problems than either of us can count, and much more. Things have settled down in those areas but there is still much to talk about. Fortunately our husbands are tolerant of our friendship and are more than willing to contribute to the conversation.
The venue had changed for the show and included a restaurant where we agreed to meet. We arrived first and were hurrying to find a bathroom when the driver of a small red truck beeped and waved at us. We waved back and kept on walking. By the time they parked and entered the restaurant we weren’t nearly so desperate.
We caught up over a delicious lunch and finally agreed it was time to go. Barb’s husband, George, went to get his camera and my husband and I went on in. We were issued arm bands and I was embarrassed because my hands wouldn’t work well enough to put it on. The kind lady at the entrance did it for me.
We waited on George, who is capable of making a snail look speedy. Barb and I talked some more, while my husband was captivated by some vases costing thousands of dollars. I know they sound expensive, but if the cost had been figured as dollars per hour they would have been under priced, they were that intricate and beautiful.
We drifted apart and Barb rejoined her husband. We marveled at the sheer variety of items on display. There were teensy miniatures I could barely see without my reading glasses and a full-size flying carousel horse with what looked like a six-foot wing span. Realistic birds were displayed next to fantastical trolls holding lost socks. The lost sock troll even had its own story to go with it.
We rounded a corner and I pointed at a cute crocodile, or was it an alligator? When I called it to my husband’s attention, it opened its mouth to reveal a mouthful of candy. I laughed and it waggled its feet. I told the guy who made it that he must be popular with his grandkids. He said they are all too big now, but he does have one great-grandchild who is almost old enough to appreciate it.
Dragons, fish, cowboys and oodles of Santas competed with intricate chip carved boxes for our attention. We caught up with Barb and George at the flute display. Haunting tunes emanated from the flutes and I noticed that Barb had one in her hand. I didn’t even know she played. If she doesn’t, this will be incentive to learn, as she is taking one home.
We finally saw the booth manned by one of our local carvers. He got up and hugged me, never losing hold of the fries he was eating. We talked for a bit. He said there had been a good turnout and a steady supply of customers all day. They were hoping to hold the show in the same location the following year.
A short shopping trip through the “toy” isle netted me a couple of carving gloves and a new gouge. One guy thought I was shorting him a dollar but I showed him that I had given him four quarters instead of a paper dollar. He was still skeptical but took my word for it. Only a lack of time, energy and money prevented me from buying much more.
As always, we were amazed at the sheer talent and creativity that was displayed in one room. How much more talent remains hidden in back rooms, garages and out of the way places because people don’t think they are good enough?
Still, it is the time spent with old friends that I cherish the most. All the rest is icing on the cake.