Music in the Park, August 5, 2009

Summer nights in downtown Olympia. We only get down to Music in the Park once or twice each year. More's the pity. It's pleasant. Kids can run around and jig to the tunes. Folks meet up with old friends. It's very small town-y.

Tonight it was The Starlings. They were awfully fun. I enjoy music where I can hear the instruments involved and understand the lyrics. And when there clearly is talent.

I know. I'm old.

And I like country-folk anyway, so I didn't need much convincing.

I have no idea what this fellow's name is. He is at almost every public music event. We call him the Fan Dancer.

Okay, tonight he was in his Gauzy Wing outfit, but he is always noteworthy.

But this man is the definition of why I love where I live. Here is a guy who wears vampire fang dentures and a skirt and does a flowing dance in public to unwind. He's not hurting anyone and isn't in anyone's way.

A couple weeks before at Music in the Park, the 204th Army Reserve Band blasted their way through a military music concert. Somebody that "weren't from around here" gave the Fan Dancer some lip. Two elderly ladies in their matching twin sets turned on the lip-giver and gave him grief for "judging."

I love this town.