Strange days indeed...

Yesterday was surreal for me on many levels. We had a sale on the court square in Newnan to do, so the car was packed the evening before and work went on well into the night to finish a few last minute pieces. I got to bed around two thirty that morning. When we awoke it was to cold temperatures and rather blustery winds, with promises of rain mixed with snow flurries. Both of the kids were sick this past week so we told them that they were to stay at home for this one, and judging by their reactions I can safely say that they agreed to the decision with no argument.

We left the house at the ungodly early appointed hour and shivered through the set up on the square. The largest problem we faced was the cold, followed closely by the wind. There were just a few people walking around looking at the works of the local artists.. Most sane people were at home in bed. We had many cups of coffee and hot chocolate throughout the morning, but they simply couldn't combat the cold and wind. We finally gave up and packed everything back in the car early and went over to the other side of the square for lunch.

As usual, the high points of the day were seeing and speaking with friends who stopped by. Eddy Smalley stopped by and purchased the wizard's staff that I completed back in July, it was a correct fit for him. It was good to catch up with and see him, it's been too long. Eddy is a great photographer, and did this shot of the staff later in the day. I'm hoping to do some work with him in getting some good shots of my carvings...

Internationally renown author John Pender made the long trek down to Newnan for the event. He and his wife spent some time on the square and went to lunch with us at the Redneck Gourmet. John now has his book, Seven Days of Terror, for sale at Scott's Bookstore on the square. Its a great read, I highly recommend it. I have been reading his blog for a long while now and it was fun to finally meet him in person. My brother was on hand to wow the crowds with his musical prowess, yet it was just "too damn cold" to get the guitar out... Yet he did enjoy his huge ass hot dog at lunch....

Once lunch was over we bid farewell to John and Denise, again thanks for coming down guys, and headed out to a local Kroger to take care of our final piece of business for the day. Rob Cole, and Jennifer Jones were getting married and asked me to have the honor of conducting the wedding ceremony for them. There was no way I could turn this down as I have known Rob for my entire life and count him as one of my dearest friends... They first met in person at Kroger and deemed it appropriate that they should therefore get married in the parking lot...

This is the second marriage for each of them and for this go around they wanted to take everything in stride and have fun with it all.. Can't say that I blame them. The wedding ceremony was followed by a tour of the store for the taking of the official wedding pictures... People certainly look at you with varied expressions when you are taking pictures in a grocery store.. but we all had a good time. One of the bag boys had been watching as they were married and couldn't believe that they actually did it there... he was so impressed by the audacity of the whole situation that he had to have his picture taken with them... Everyone seemed to get a big kick out of it and the staff at the store were all friendly and helpful...

Good luck to Rob & Jennifer on their journey through life. Make it count guys, and never ever stop smiling.. Life is too short for bullshit, have fun and enjoy it...

On the way home to unload the car I was lost in thought of what the day had put on my schedule. Where else can you say that you worked a local artist sale, ate lunch with a famous author, and performed a wedding ceremony for a couple in a Kroger parking lot.... How in the world did all this happen....