Sales
I wasn't planning on attending Sidewalk Sales.
I mean, I'm 33. Cramming onto a corner so I can have quarter (now 50 cent) beers probably isn't something I should be doing. I can afford to go to a bar if I want a beer that badly.
But when Colleen called and invited me, suddenly it became imperitive that I go.
I MUST GO TO SIDEWALK SALES, I kept telling myself. IT IS TIME FOR MY RETURN.
So I put Quinn in the most capable hands of her father, picked up Colleen and Doug and her brother John, and we were on our way.
As we approached Riverside Drive, now in a group with my friend Sue and her husband Greg and assorted others, I held Colleen's hand. "I love you," I told her. "And I love this day. Please hold my hand."
Colleen smiled at me and quietly removed her hand from my sweaty paw.
I was wearing my niece Kaitlin's Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses and pigtails.
I was ready.
Here are assorted highlights of the day:
* Freely greeting and chatting up people that I go to great lengths to avoid while I'm at the grocery store or at the mall. Vague figure from my past, whom I haven't spoken with since high school? SURE! Person I worked with ten years ago and didn't like? HI THERE! Distant relatives I would normally pretend not to recognize? HAPPY FIESTA DAYS TO YOU! Honestly, I can't explain the feeling of group love that pervades this day. You have to experience it for yourself.
* Begging the stone-faced police officer handing out over-21 bracelets to card me. "Come on..." I told him. "Don't you want to see my ID? ... I'd like to show you my license ... I could be just 18, you know." Finally he just barked "NO!" at me, ignoring my choked sob of hurt as I shuffled away, back to my posse, my unnecessary ID bracelet dangling from my aged wrist.
* Getting a hug and a kiss from Kelly. My mom saw a picture of Kelly and I in my photo album many years ago and said, "Who is that?" I said, "Mom, that's Kelly, my favorite bartender at the Gambler!" She said, "You are DISGUSTING."
* Saying, "I LOVE THIS DAY" to anyone who would listen, and always getting an enthusiastic nod or a high five. HIGH FIVES ABOUNDED AT SIDEWALK SALES '03!!!
* Periodic whispered conferences with Colleen and Sue: "Did you see xxxxxx? Oh my god. Right over there. Shut up. He's bald. Oh my god. I was just talking to yyyyyyy. She still has BIG TALL BANGS. No. BIG TALL ONES. Shut up. Have you seen zzzzzz? I have to see him. Shut up, I had that dream about him and I need to get it out of my head. I know he still lives in McHenry, what's his problem?"
* Offering to go get Sue a beer about 3 times, and never returning with one because I was distracted by another new set of people to talk to and love the day with.
* One word: MIDGE. She's back and better than ever. We had a reunion and programmed each other's numbers into our cell phones. I swear to god, she made my day. So did her mother and father, who stayed out the whole day and night, her mother in a purple hat and her father always laughing and smiling. LOVE THEM.
* Dancing in the Gambler after Sidewalk Sales closed down to Elvis. DANCING IN THE GAMBLER. I'm not even embarrassed.
* Sitting next to Michael and listening to his commentary on the other patrons of the Gambler. He is a one-man show.
* Reviewing past Fiesta Days escapades with Joe.
* Watching odd groups of people sit together and talk. I wish I'd brought my camera.
I'm still tired, and it's Monday. But I am so glad I went.
VIVA LE SIDEWALK SALES!!!
Posted by Amy at July 21, 2003 09:21 AM
