Picnic Time!
On July 3, 1967 the most important
question I had ever asked another person was given an affirmative answer. Diana
said she would marry me. We were happy and carefree and spent a joyous Fourth
at Swope Park celebrating both our engagement and the birthday of our
country.
Two weeks passed and we decided that perhaps her family might need to get to know me a little bit better than they did. I wasn't a complete stranger as I had been her brother's art teacher during the previous school year. Having met her had caused me to seek a teaching position near Kansas City so that I could pursue the "girl of my dreams," a decision that I knew was right at the time and still know to be the one I ever made.
So on Friday of the Picnic I drove from southwest Missouri to Kansas City to pick up Diana when she got off work so that we could drive to El Dorado Springs. I had never been to the Picnic so I had no idea what it was all about.
On Saturday night we went down to the Picnic. What an event! I had never seen anything like it in my life. In my hometown we had no yearly celebration. Oh, a carnival came usually during the summer and once or twice a two ring circus even made an appearance. But they were not like the El Dorado Springs Picnic!
As we made our way through the crowded boardwalk we spotted the Tilt-A-Whril and decided to take a "spin." She said it was her favorite ride and it always has been mine as well. You might guess that neither of us cares for the breathtaking rides that some seem to love.
While my first Picnic has special memories due to our engagement, it is shared with many other Picnics that have equal meaning.
The year 1979 found us literally living in the Picnic. Parrish, our son, and I had stopped on West Spring street one March afternoon as we were on our way home from school. I knew that the upper floor above The Natural Grocer had been turned into an apartment. As we had been exploring the possibility of a move, I was curious as to what the living space looked like.
I remember when Parrish and I stood at the windows overlooking the beautiful Spring Park. I could feel the excitement radiating from his body. We both knew this was our new home. I told the landlady that we would be right back. Home we flew and told Diana we had a surprise for her. When she saw the view, the decision was made.
Soon we were moved in and that summer the Picnic came to our front yard and has surrounded us for the past twenty years! At that first Picnic the temperature on Saturday afternoon soared to 113 degrees. But that didn't deter us, oh no. We decided that it would be a fine time to ride the Tilt-A-Whirl. And ride it, we did.
It seemed like a great ride to us. We were the only ticket holders and the guy in charge seemed to delight in having us and we're sure our experience lasted a bit longer that it should have.
When we staggered from the ride Diana and Parrish said they were hot and wanted to go home. We walked from West Broadway to West Spring and up to the apartment. No sooner were we home than Parrish became extremely ill, joined quickly by his mother. It seemed that the high temperature was just a little too much for two of the three thrill seekers that Picnic afternoon.
Most of the Picnics since then have been hot although none has been that intense. From our living room windows we have had a front row seat each and every year. We never miss the Picnic. That would be impossible unless, or course, we were to leave town. Rest assured, we won't be doing that! Not for anyone.
We no longer sit at the window watching the Picnic. In recent years the city has engaged a company to bring a sound system for the nightly entertainment. We now can enjoy the shows as we listen with our pillows placed over our heads. It seems to us that this brings the volume almost to a bearable level. So, if you come down to the Picnic and thing the main shows are just a little loud, take a hint from those who have experienced every Picnic for the pasty twenty years, simply bring two pillows with you and place one against each ear. The sound should be just about perfect!
Enjoy the Picnic! There is nothing quite like the special occasion which each of us in El Dorado Springs is privileged to share. It reminds us of the determination of our founding families and the cooperative spirit which brought about the establishment of our community.
Two weeks passed and we decided that perhaps her family might need to get to know me a little bit better than they did. I wasn't a complete stranger as I had been her brother's art teacher during the previous school year. Having met her had caused me to seek a teaching position near Kansas City so that I could pursue the "girl of my dreams," a decision that I knew was right at the time and still know to be the one I ever made.
So on Friday of the Picnic I drove from southwest Missouri to Kansas City to pick up Diana when she got off work so that we could drive to El Dorado Springs. I had never been to the Picnic so I had no idea what it was all about.
On Saturday night we went down to the Picnic. What an event! I had never seen anything like it in my life. In my hometown we had no yearly celebration. Oh, a carnival came usually during the summer and once or twice a two ring circus even made an appearance. But they were not like the El Dorado Springs Picnic!
As we made our way through the crowded boardwalk we spotted the Tilt-A-Whril and decided to take a "spin." She said it was her favorite ride and it always has been mine as well. You might guess that neither of us cares for the breathtaking rides that some seem to love.
While my first Picnic has special memories due to our engagement, it is shared with many other Picnics that have equal meaning.
The year 1979 found us literally living in the Picnic. Parrish, our son, and I had stopped on West Spring street one March afternoon as we were on our way home from school. I knew that the upper floor above The Natural Grocer had been turned into an apartment. As we had been exploring the possibility of a move, I was curious as to what the living space looked like.
I remember when Parrish and I stood at the windows overlooking the beautiful Spring Park. I could feel the excitement radiating from his body. We both knew this was our new home. I told the landlady that we would be right back. Home we flew and told Diana we had a surprise for her. When she saw the view, the decision was made.
Soon we were moved in and that summer the Picnic came to our front yard and has surrounded us for the past twenty years! At that first Picnic the temperature on Saturday afternoon soared to 113 degrees. But that didn't deter us, oh no. We decided that it would be a fine time to ride the Tilt-A-Whirl. And ride it, we did.
It seemed like a great ride to us. We were the only ticket holders and the guy in charge seemed to delight in having us and we're sure our experience lasted a bit longer that it should have.
When we staggered from the ride Diana and Parrish said they were hot and wanted to go home. We walked from West Broadway to West Spring and up to the apartment. No sooner were we home than Parrish became extremely ill, joined quickly by his mother. It seemed that the high temperature was just a little too much for two of the three thrill seekers that Picnic afternoon.
Most of the Picnics since then have been hot although none has been that intense. From our living room windows we have had a front row seat each and every year. We never miss the Picnic. That would be impossible unless, or course, we were to leave town. Rest assured, we won't be doing that! Not for anyone.
We no longer sit at the window watching the Picnic. In recent years the city has engaged a company to bring a sound system for the nightly entertainment. We now can enjoy the shows as we listen with our pillows placed over our heads. It seems to us that this brings the volume almost to a bearable level. So, if you come down to the Picnic and thing the main shows are just a little loud, take a hint from those who have experienced every Picnic for the pasty twenty years, simply bring two pillows with you and place one against each ear. The sound should be just about perfect!
Enjoy the Picnic! There is nothing quite like the special occasion which each of us in El Dorado Springs is privileged to share. It reminds us of the determination of our founding families and the cooperative spirit which brought about the establishment of our community.
(Written July 22, 1999)
Posted: Wed - December 28, 2005 at 05:58 PM
Quick Links
Reflection
"Chance favors only the prepared mind." - Louis Pasteur
"Art arises from basic needs-a strong need to express and celebrate our everyday events.
In a museum most people spend less than twenty seconds looking at a work of art."
"Art arises from basic needs-a strong need to express and celebrate our everyday events.
In a museum most people spend less than twenty seconds looking at a work of art."
Calendar
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
blogs
Categories
Archives
XML/RSS Feed
Visitors
Statistics
Total entries in this blog:
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Dec 29, 2005 06:33 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Dec 29, 2005 06:33 PM