See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands
Isaiah - 49-16
The horses got a
break today while Patty and I spent the day in Wickenburg. We started
out the morning in Cowboy Church listening to Pastor Wes Walton give
the Sunday Service. I can't pin-point the difference between Cowboy
Church and traditional church – but I much prefer cowboy church.
Maybe it's more relatable to me?
It was worth the
$5.00 parking fee to avoid having to search for a spot close enough
to the Gold Rush Days venue without having to walk across an 80 acre
lot. The quality of the vendors they pulled in are top notch. I'm not
the artsy-fartsy type, but if I where, I could have picked something
from just about any of the vendors on-site. The creativity, quality
and time the artists put into their work was well worth the hefty
price tags, I'm sure. From metal art and jewelry to framed artwork of
every imaginable medium.
Most of the vendor
booths were set up under nice cover with fancy displays showcasing
their work. I spotted a man tucked back in the corner sitting behind
a single work bench. He was selling bracelets he would personalize in
5 minutes. I don't wear much jewelry, but when I do, it's usually a
bracelet. The man had a patch over one eye and a form of paralysis
evident by facial droopiness on his left side. I picked out a brass
blank about a quarter of an inch wide. He had me write my name on a
slip of paper. There were only three other names besides mine. I
expected him to take the blank back and put it under some sort of
automatic laser/etching machine for the personalizing. Instead, he
hand etched/carved my name using nothing but a small hand held
hacksaw. I watched him do it and I'm still not sure how he pulled it
off. I handed him my $20.00 feeling like I'd just stolen from a blind
man.
I was starving, as
usual. I don't know what it is – but I feel like I'm the only one
in Arizona that actually eats anything. We walked around the food
court looking for something that cost less than the works of art in
the vendor section. I settled on a corn dog. You can't go wrong with
a corn dog...or so I thought. No amount of mustard was going to help
that battered weenie. I choked it down pushing thoughts of
salmonella poisoning to the far reaches of my brain.
We had planned to
attend a melodrama at the Saguaro Theater later that evening. We each
got a double scoop of homemade ice cream and walked over to the
Chamber of Commerce to purchase tickets. They were sold out...which
is cool for the melodrama itself, but disappointing for us. We
convinced ourselves we were too tired anyway.
We strolled up the
streets of Wickenburg and checked out some of the shops. The Old
Livery Mercantile was floor to ceiling with everything imaginable.
There was something for everyone in that store. I've discovered that
when I'm tired..I buy stuff. Who needs a $28.95 butter dish? Nobody.
But I got me one anyway. In the future, I will take a good nap before
venturing among the retailers.
I needed a water bucket to replace
the one Jack demolished. TSC also carries the fender I need for my
trailer. Unfortunately, I forgot how Dave measured it and wrongly
assumed it would not fit. I will head back in the morning and pick it
up. I'll make sure to get a good night's sleep beforehand...I don't
need matching salt and pepper shakers to go with my butter dish.
We stopped at the
Coyote Den on our way home. It had been a sunny and warm day. We
ordered an ice tea each that I swear was served to us in half gallon
Styrofoam cups. Shopping might put me to sleep – but that ice tea
is going to keep me awake for the next 4 nights.
We gathered
firewood for Patty's nightly Bon-Fire ritual and filled Dave in on
our day. Later that evening, he and Patty left me to tend the fire
while they went to pick up Cindy from her shoot. I leaned back in my
chair with my feet next to the cholla fire and twisted the brass
bracelet engraved with my name around my wrist. I thought of the man
with the eye patch and the facial dis-figuration. I thought of his
steady hands as he skillfully carved my name in that tiny width of
brass. The quiet, gentle tone of his voice as he called me Senorita
and thanked me for my purchase. I pray tomorrow that his slip of
paper is filled from top to bottom and front to back with names for
him to carve.
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