Crab Fest

Every year on Memorial weekend, the good people of Kodiak, Alaska celebrate Crab Fest. It is, by far, the biggest event of the year, and there is an excitement surrounding it that certainly rivals the anticipation of much bigger events in much bigger places, like Mardi gras in New Orleans. 

If you are used to larger, more polished events in more metropolitan locations, you might not be impressed by our small town parade; our midway with modest tents and trailers selling food, drink, and souvenirs; or the relatively meager line up of rides and games. T and I were unimpressed last year. But this year, I got into it--and this even though my poor husband was bedridden with the flu and completely unable to join in the festivities.

Rainbow and I watched Saturday's parade with friends, and I loved seeing her enjoy it, collecting trinkets and books given to her by people in the parade and waving as they went by. Inspired by her enthusiasm for the parade, I did for her something I never thought I'd do--I stood in a line for at least half an hour so that I could pay $5 for her to ride a horse for about 45 seconds.  She loved it so much that she cried when she was taken off the horse.

On Saturday afternoon, Rainbow and I walked by all of the booths, watched people on the rides, and ate somewhat cold (because of the weather, ya know) fish and chips while listening to a brass band play. We didn't do everything there was to do, or see everything there was to see, but I felt somehow very present, and that was nice. 

On Sunday, I left Rainbow at home with T (still semi-bedridden) to watch our neighbors' marimba band perform at Kodiak's beautiful public library. There's something very satisfying about hearing a marimba band when it's 40 degrees and raining outside. If you're interested, here's a video with a few snippets of some of their songs. Our neighbors are the two blonds with the most interesting hair.