Red Skies At Dawning, Sailors Fix Their Awning

Or is it, Red Skies At Night, Sailors Take Fright?

Or Red Skies At Dawn, Sailors Mow Their Lawn?

Yesterday saw red skies over the Marin County Civic Center, where Mike was setting up his exquisite artisan’s booth.

Well, it didn’t snow, nor did it hail. But, and this is a big but, there was plenty of wind and rain. It cut Mike’s display time down by a little over an hour. But, and this is a big but, he still managed to sell some stuff . . . enough stuff to cover the daily booth fee, anyway.

A number of artisans (including Mike) left early, especially those whose work would be considered water-sensitive. Also leaving early were the inflatable kid house people. Their puffy structures had been standing there sad and vacant, kidless. So they left, alas, to the utter dismay of one little boy who, rounding the corner in his red wagon and seeing the lifeless vinyl, burst into tears. Can anything match the disappointment of a child losing his coveted bouncing time?

Photos: Red Skies & Civic Center—Marin County, 2008; Vacant Inflatable Structure—Marin County, 2008; Mike & Rain, Farmers Market—Marin County, 2008