Labor Day! Thoughts and news from the weekend......

The Gecko Fest 2011 is now history.   It was really a fun day.   The weather cooperated and the neighboring vendors were friendly.  We sat under a tree which was right across the road for most of the day in between helping customers.   The tree provided much needed shade.   The neighbors to my right were a couple from Gulfport that had gotten into making cast aluminum fish, turtles, and other sealife.   Cliff was telling me how he does it.   He takes used car parts from foreign cars  (his neighbor works on foreign cars) and somehow melts the aluminum parts down.   He forms clay creatures and casts the molten aluminum over the mold.   Interesting.... It was their first show ever.   I told them that his art was beautiful and is fine art.   I suggested he goes for it...... sends into shows that are juried.   I think he has a great future.    Next door to them is a couple who make beautiful wood turned vessels.    They have fine shapes, and resemble fine pottery,  except for being made of wood.  We spoke under the tree quite a lot,  too.   They were telling me that they are from Seminole.  I told them I am,  too.   Then we realized that we are neighbors!    They said they currently have two homes though and are renting the one in my neighborhood out.   They said they are going to be moving back into it though soon.   (downsizing)....   So we had quite a nice little group under the tree.  

It was fun watching all of the people and dogs coming by all day long.   Quite a few of the people were dressed up for the Gecko Fest occasion.   I took quite a few pictures.   Dogs of all shapes and sizes,   dressed up and not,  came by.   Dogs on leashes,  dogs in strollers,  dogs in owner's arms.
Some people had bearded dragons sitting on their shoulders.   One young man walked by with a Cockatoo on his shoulder!    We could hear the squawks of a parrot nearby.    Gulfport is a very colorful city in all ways.......... (if you get my meaning..........)  

Rob came by and visited later,  Allie and Jaxon came by and surprised me!   A man with sunglasses and hat said to me,  "Hi Nancy!"    I looked at him and just couldn't place him.   I said,  "oh, I can't quite place you."    Turns out it was Charlie Fant,  the Fire Chief for the City of Treasure Island.
Charlie started out working there back when I worked there.   He was a fireman.   Worked his way up to chief and has been chief for quite a long time.    I hadn't seen Charlie for probably a good 10 years or so.   We talked for a little bit.   His wife was walking a cute little long haired daschund.   Jen and Dan (Jen lives next door and is Allie's age) came by with Dan's parents.   We talked quite awhile.
Chris came by and hung around for quite awhile.   Really fun.  

When I was knocking down the booth,   the guy who does the wood turning came over.   He said,
"Did you go to Boca Ciega High School?"    I said,  "yes,  I did,  why?"   Then he said,  "I didn't forget you."    I looked at him more closely.   Then he said,  "I'm Tommy."   Oh my God!  Tommy Muncie!    Back in my five months at Boca Ciega High,  I met him.   (we had moved here from Michigan right before my senior year).....   Brandon,  my ex,  had moved down here with us.   I was really losing interest in Brandon even before we moved here.   I shouldn't have invited him to move down here.   Anyways.. back to Tommy.   Tommy was really,  really cute!   He has brown eyes,  blonde hair.   His hair back in 1974 was down to his shoulders.    He owned a really neat van.  That was right when vans were coming into vogue.   He had his all decked out with the carpet inside,
etc.   Really super cool!     He asked me out.   He took me out one day in his van for a ride to go and get a coke during school.   We had a schedule that had breaks sometimes and we were allowed off campus.    So while riding with Tommy,  I explained how this other guy came down from Michigan and lived with us.   I am pretty sure I told him I'd love to go out with him.    (however..............)
So it didn't happen.    Back to Gecko Fest.......... When Tommy told me who he was,  I told him,
"I had a crush on you back then and really wanted to go out with you."    I then told him,  "I've thought about you over the years and wondered what you've been doing."   He told me that he'd worked for the George F. Young company for 22 years doing marine surveying.    He said he married (and I can't remember her first name)  ......... Applefield.   That is his current wife,  who by then was walking over to us.    I asked her,  "oh,  are you related to Gary?"    She said "yes,  I'm his sister".
I said,  "small world!  I dated Gary back in the day."    She said she didn't remember me dating her brother.   I asked her if she had another sister?    She said,  "yes".   Then she said,  "I may have been away in college back then."    I said, "maybe.  I do remember meeting one of his sisters when I came over to your house."    (Gary has since died,  which is really sad.)   I didn't ask how.   Didn't want to make her sad.    So,  what a small world!     And here,  we talked all day long  with me not knowing it was my old crush.   Funny!

Today is Labor Day.   I didn't know Allie wanted us to watch Jaxon.   She didn't tell me earlier in the week.    I finally got her message and picked him up.    I already have Gabby and Anthony here.  They are at such a good age where if we want to go out,   they can be left alone.  Gabby will be 13 this week.    They want to go and play mini golf this afternoon.   I will bring them,  and pick up my friend Chris and play.   Chris is the best friend I've ever had.   She called me this morning.   Later Chris said she'd like to go bowling,  too.   I mentioned going bowling.  My first choice for today's activities.
Later we'll grill out.

Happy Labor Day!