Motley Crue, A Motley Crew, and A Gospel Choir?

Okay. What do Motley Crue, A Motley Crew and a Gospel Choir all have in common? Portfest in Newport!

Last night was the second and last day of Newport's annual summer festival called Portfest. It is a two day festival with approximately two weeks of local activities i.e. talent show, fishing tournament, 5K race, etc. leading up to the big weekend (not including the wearing of the official t-shirt which begins about six weeks or so before and is "required" wearing on Fridays around town). It seems like everyone in town has some connection to the preparations for the big event.

Friday was a long day and I was not able to make it out to any of the festivities but Saturday night I made my way out for the BIG show with some friends. While there, I made a few observations.

First, I might mention Vince Neil, lead singer for Motley Crue, was the headliner for the concert. Now when our Chamber of Commerce director announced this at our annual banquet, I found myself asking "Who in the world is Vince Neil?" It didn't matter enough to me to investigate . . . until I saw his photo on the posters . . . and found out he was with the metal band Motley Crue. To say his photo was ultra hot would be a gross understatement. I might mention here I've never heard one of their songs either. But hey, looking that good, who cares?! It also bears mentioning that most of the acts that do these festival circuits have seen their heyday and so when they show up here, they look nothing like the photo on the posters. I now realize these photos are from days gone by. So with no recognizable music and nothing to LOOK at, I tried to nap until the fireworks. But that was an effort in futility. For even though we'd moved almost a football field back from the speakers, I still felt like I was attached to a defibrillator. Every cell in my body was reorganized. Moral of the story? Sit TWO football fields away from the speakers, don't believe those guys look ANYTHING like the photos on the posters and oh, rock stars do not age gracefully, especially ones with lives like this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vince_Neil

Second. It is indeed a motley crew that shows up for Portfest. My life takes me out into our community on a daily basis where I know and see a good many different people. But I'm telling you, I've no idea where this motley crew comes from each year for Portfest! When the napping thing wasn't panning out, I decided to people watch. Veeerrrrryyyyy interesting . . . where DO they get those clothes? Does he realize mullets are 'out'? How can she walk in those wedges on this turf? Can they not see their clothes are waaaaaaaaaay too small? Does her mother know she is with him? When was the last time he took a bath and do guys wear shirts anymore? You would not believe the interesting humanity congregating at our little festival. Yep, quite a motley crew of our own. As these thoughts went through my head and I recognized no songs, I realized . . . I am very much middle-aged. By the way, where did Brawny Boy go to? Is he wearing a shirt?

The concert finally finished (not a moment too soon) and during the lull, I leaned back and looked up at the stars. The stars are very visible where I live as it is rural and there is very little light pollution. The temperature at 9:30 pm was 89 degrees, there was a good breeze and no humidity and miraculously, no bugs thanks to the fogging crew. The air felt like satin against your skin. It was Perfect with a capital P. There were couples taking advantage of the night and the stars (apparently Motley Crue music puts some people into a romantic mood) as we waited for the fireworks to begin which did none too soon because I didn't want to watch the couple's fireworks :) The wind wreaked a bit of havoc with the fireworks but it was still a good production with the best finale I've seen yet at Portfest.

Third. I almost forgot. The gospel choir. Interestingly, only in the South would you follow up a Vince Neil/Motley Crue concert with fireworks set to music from a gospel choir! Only in the South.

All in all, Portfest was a great time. Five years ago at my first Portfest, having just moved here, I knew one person. Now, not only was it fun to head out there with a group of my friends but I knew dozens of the festival goers around me (the 'normal' ones :) . Good friends, good junk food, perfect night, Brawny Boy behaved and also wore a shirt. What more could you ask for on a summer's night?

Next year? You're welcome to come with me . . .

Small Town Saturday Night

Hot. Sultry. Outside on a Saturday night in a small town in the South. Feels much like wearing an angora sweater in a wet sauna. But you suffer the oppressive heat and humidity to gain something more than a satisfactory test of whether your anti-perspirant works like the commercials said it would. You endure the climatic discomfort to connect with the many reasons that keep you here in this small town in the South: the many people.

There are those in this place that loudly complain there is nothing to do here . . . ever. They decry the lack of things to do using foul language. Well, I would like to say a few F-words myself to tell you what this Saturday night in this small town held for me: Family, friends, and fireworks.

A family reunion was taking place at a renovated local train depot. One attending family member is an employee for a professional fireworks display company. Out of his desire to make the reunion memorable, and his love for this community, he put together the biggest fireworks extravaganza the town has previously seen, even larger than the display at the annual Portfest. Free to the families, friends and neighbors of this area.

Who says there is nothing to do in this town? This night is just one of many opportunities we have to enjoy in our small town.

So, we went out to watch what was a spectacular, professional display of fireworks but more than entertainment took place, recreation took place. As the town assembled on Front Street, people connected, relationships were "recreated." The disconnect that happens in the busyness of living life: heading off to jobs, to school, home and garden chores, meetings, civic duties, family activities . . . gone, as people sat next to each other, catching up, connecting. What you heard and saw was laughter, conversation, friendship, hugging, back-slapping, handshaking.

What you experienced was . . . community.

A small town in the South on a Saturday night.