Meanderings: Entertainment is the key
Often, personal columns focus on what is most on the writer's mind. That's why this one is on Chingawassa Days.
Buttons go up in price after this weekend. They fund about two-thirds of Chingawassa Days. Sponsors (some of which provide in-kind contributions) cover the rest. Some people wait to buy them at the gate, even knowing of the discount. The buttons are a bargain, even at full price, for all the things they offer.
It is important to stress that, if you want maximum button value, you need to spend maximum time in the park. That's not a hard thing for most people; those who come tend to leave later than they planned, just because of the fun.
But what if you don't like (or don't know) 38 Special or Trent Summar? That's OK. Live music always is exciting — the lights, the sound, the crowd. If you don't want to park your lawn chair right in front of the speakers, that's OK. Sit in the back.
After all, 38 Special has been together for more than 25 years. They know how to entertain. And Trent Summar? His main goal is to have people say "wow, did you see that?" after his performance.
You don't have to be a music expert to enjoy the show.
I was guilty of bad weather judgment recently. I was interviewing Trent Summar May 8 when all the threatening storm clouds moved through. He went to all the trouble of calling from Nashville, I ignored the increasingly concerned warnings.
We talked even after the sirens started blowing.
As we all know, the storm moved on past, leaving little in Marion but a few drops of rain. I was a little miffed to stand up at my desk and find everyone else in the office gone — they were outside, watching the clouds. You would think they would have at least left a note before I rushed panic-stricken to the basement.
Nevertheless, staying on the phone in a storm that generated tornado warnings is the height of stupidity. I could easily have been electrocuted by a lightning strike through the phone lines. So I thank my guardian angel. But after listening to meteorologist Mark Larsen's presentation at Marion Elementary School this past week, I should have rescheduled the call.
There's only so much you can ask of a guardian angel.
— MATT NEWHOUSE
