COOK PARK BALLOON DAY

Cook Park has an event every year, the annual balloon festival.

We talk about going every year, but we’ve missed a couple.

Not this year.

And I found myself saying the same thing to anyone who’d listen.

“Back in my day I’d bring teams to this field and we’d run wild, even winning a few games.”

In the group of adults I was there with were some of the same kids from those teams.

One of their kids had already spent a season on the Cook Park soccer fields as a four year old, so it’s starting up again.

The Hallowed Ground Of Cook Park

I’m not the only granddad who pursued glory on this grass, but walking around with some of the guys and pushing a baby carriage loaded with everything but a baby made it feel special, like I could see the past and the future before my own eyes.

Jumbo corndogs brought it all together. That and a walking beer. Who doesn’t like an event that includes walking beers?

Because of the weather the whole event was sparcely attended.

It wasn’t bad weather, just Oregon weather: Overcast with sprinkles on a day with heavier rains.

When you join parents who’ve already bought the all-rides pass, there’s no question of going or not going.

It might be a monsoon and you’re still going.

As one of them said, “We’re Oregonians. This isn’t bad.” (Hey M)

Bad?

Where I come from overcast and rainy is a good day.

Dial up the wind and add sandblasting from a local dune and it would feel like North Bend.

I still get an historical hit from a carnival, from walking the midway between games and rides.

That history is the Coos County Fair in Myrtle Point.

Since then I’ve been to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags, and they all take me back to the county fair.

I hope the childhood memories are as strong in others as they are with me.

When The Rainbow Comes Out

If you’re inside on a darkening day it looks cold and uninviting out there.

Go out? No way.

Baby boomer bones ask why?

But add in some of that millennial energy of ‘let’s go’ and forget about it.

Cold? Bundle up.

Wet? Put on rain gear.

Get ready, get out, catch a pint and things start lighting up.

The only way to keep up is by standing up and taking that first step.

After that go with the flow.

When you’re with your people you can’t go wrong.