Holy Crap...it's Tucson

Last show of the year is always in Tucson.
It is traditional to attend for
myself and my two wild artist friends
(who I affectionately call

Sister Mary Janet)
This year when I said,
"I think I will pass,"
they said, "Oh No, you won't."

Rich in adventures and the hilarious
oddity that is downtown Tucson!
It is always a parade of the bizarre!
And we have a collection of stories

told and retold
to anyone who will listen!

Janet's rendition of the intoxicated girl,
who was listening and weaving

to 'far away 'music while
holding up her bike
and trying to apply chap stick
around and around,

ultimately... on her whole face,

continues to entertain me
every time I hear it!

This year there are kids
with hugs for sale,
"regular ones and deluxe"
hmmm, curious about the
deluxe version but not that curious...
a lot of three legged dogs
which made us wonder...whats going
on down here?
And whats up with all the facial hair
on these women?

Don't they have friends who will tell them

"honey, pluck!

There are the usual sights

like people dressed up

as stuffed animals or carrying exotic ones
but our new favorite is
"creepy stick man"
he would slink through the crowd,

white faced, arms and legs
banded with sticks,

clicking and clacking like old bones,
(even saw a woman scream
when he startled her...)
To us, its just.... Tucson!

This year we started a journal
for our commentaries
and observances...
taking turns passing it back in forth
between our booths
which were side by side in a row of three
this made it easier to say,
"Holy crap, Did you see that?"
like when Cleopatra came sailing down
the sidewalk in her array of gold lamete'.

(Wait, that might have been last year!)

We eat at the same place for every meal,
(the second reason why we come here)
a fun little restaurant that everyone
who has 'good taste' is seen dining in.
Black bean burgers for every dinner and
homemade biscuits with honey and butter
in the morning...
Janet and I decide these
are a sticky golden piece of heaven

for people who are really good!

The third reason is to make sales

(of course)
but that's not what we ever really remember
its the stories, the moments,
the experiences
that we gather along the way
the ones that make our faces hurt
from smiling
too much and too long
creating permanent lines of happy,

that we wear proudly

through the rest of the year!.

On the way back to Phoenix.
I suggest, "next year
we should show up with something
funny to wear all week end..."
"yeah, like a tiara, or a fake nose
maybe even some sticks?"
Mary adds in agreement.

Hey, when in Rome...!"


Pam Piper Rain

alias Sparkly Pants

or was it Piper Jo?