After
a whirlwind of travel and meetings with Jeff Pulver et al, Ken and I
decided to take a day for ourselves yesterday. Just a day of exploring
our new community and enjoying each other’s company. Being typical of
most newcomers we decided to see what sort of activities were happening
at Riverfront Park, Riverpark Square.
We got in the car and drove downtown arriving with the Nikon and our
ever present Blackberry’s for capturing the sights and memories. The
first sight we were greeted with was a Giant Wagon and in the
background some giant children’s blocks.
There were actually a number of interesting
sculptures. One is the steel runners. I have no idea how that was done.
It must have taken forever to achieve!
Another was the water sculpture.
As we wandered there was a touching veterans statue tribute. I guess
there are many similar statues around the world honoring those who died
in service to their governments.
What many don’t know or have forgotten, is that
Spokane Wa. was the home of the 1974 World Exposition. One of the most
obvious reminders is the structure left behind that covers the
arcade/amusement park area. I should share with you all that I remember
the 1974 World Fair. I attended it. So I actually remember going to
this pavillion and I also remember that my very first concert took
place at this Expo. Neil Diamond sang Sweet Caroline. I’ll save that
story for another time.
Another reminder of that time is something called the
skyride. I can tell you that the skyride of today is not much like the
skyride of ‘74. That skyride was something like a ski lift. Today it’s
enclosed and plexi-glassed in for safety. Still, it’s exciting to
travel over Spokane Falls and see the rushing water. During the return
ride, we had the windows open and were able to feel the spray from the
falls. It was a day of remembering, and a day of making new memories.
As the day wore on we decided on lunch. We walked
across the street to a place called the Sawtooth Grill. While we walked
we noticed some interesting sights. There was someone, clearly a man,
dressed very nicely in womens clothes with a long wig and makeup. Ken
and I neither one would have been overly interested except it’s Spokane
and something you just don’t see that often. Being dressed in drag
isn’t common. We also started wondering why there was so much activity
at the park. In the end we chalked it up to the start of summer
vacation.
After lunch we wandered around a bit more and headed back to the
park where there was a bandstand set up. It was then we realized just
what was going on for the day. All the signs in the world hadn’t been
enough until then.
(Yes this should have been a clue)
On stage, wearing a black floor length robe, was a man performing a
ceremony. We stopped and listened. So intent we didn’t take pictures of
what was happening, and in retrospect we wished we had. What we were
witnessing was a first for us as an engaged couple. A wedding was
taking place. Ok, maybe not a true wedding but a commitment ceremony
for the gay couples in the area! What a huge surprise and one we felt
blessed to witness. We have neither one witnessed anything like it and
it was such a special memory.
One of the neat things was the entertainment. A
performer named Auntie Bijou, a ‘woman of a certain age in flats’, did
some cabaret music, literally performing Cabaret. She was AWESOME!
Not to be outdone was, “The Giant Ass Drum Corp” performing ‘Tranny- Tude’. It was fabulous!
When we were done watching that, we headed to the carousel ride. It is a beautiful original carousel ride built in 1909.
And what amusement park would be complete without
Zoltar? I remember him from the movie ‘Big’ with Tom Hanks. Needless to
say we did not get our fortunes told. We did, however, take a picture
of Zoltar.
That is the end of a day that was absolutely
fabulous. It was a calm, if fun, day after a week of flurry. Now we
have to get ready for another week of flurry. Next weekend we move.
That we’ll write about at another time.
