This weekend I had the honor of helping vend at the Texas Viking Festival with my shop partners. Today I’m nursing sore muscles and recovering from social hangover, but it was the most incredible experience. I want to go back NOW, despite my aches and being chilly outdoors all weekend.
We had cups, goblets, mugs, bowls, jewelry, and wee Viking gnomes scattered all around our tables, and would heckle the passers by with “come in and touch our wood!”. Most giggled and came in with a chuckle, and I so very enjoyed watching J and G interact with the customers. I of course was thankful to have a job of putting leather grips on some of our unfinished work and happily toiled away while smiling at the conversations I overheard. It’s always far more comfortable for me to be able to do something productive with my hands in social situations, rather than being in the midst of it all.
The grounds the festival is held on are massive and sprawling, with two small lakes and clumps of dense wood. There are exotic and domestic deer wandering about the place, a horse barn with pretties to pet, taverns, a music stage, and fields to get lost in away from the crowds. It was a much needed respite to get away from the constant road noises of the city and out where I could see the stars again.
Our neighbor across us sews the most amazing magical stuffed felt creatures…I went to see her wares at the end of the day last night and noticed this dragon who fell over when I entered the empty booth. I set her back on her feet and marveled at her gorgeous embroidered wings and eyes and wished I could take her home. The dragon was falling over trying to get my attention when I walked in and I felt sad to leave her behind. I figured if she was there next weekend I’d see about taking her home.
When we were all worn out and packing up to leave the lovely owner of the shop walked up and told me she couldn’t stand to put the dragon back in the bag with the rest of the stuffies to take back home. Said she needed me. And put her in my arms. I about cried. I don’t ever have stuffies or anything like that, just don’t get attached. But this little girl spent the night with me.
I will always and forever be astounded at the humanity and generosity of Faire people.
At the end of the night when we were weary and sore all over and the skies were dark and crisp, we loaded up our last boxes to take back to store for the week and my shop partner’s kiddo realized she’d lost a ring. Vendors passing by noticed us out in the dark with our phone lights sweeping the grass and popped their own out to help us look. A passerby with bright lights mounted on their truck flooded the scene with daylight. There were a half dozen volunteers who didn’t have to be asked and just started looking with us, for the ring of a girl who was as exhausted as we were. I had tears in my eyes thanking them as we gave up and drove away, with their promises they’d look for it when the sun came up today.
The vending was fun, we put so many beautiful pieces in people’s hands, and sent them away smiling. But the best part of this weekend was the people. The open energy and hearts of those who camped near us. The magic of the music from the stage playing with moon shadows cast across the forest. The stars sparkling like the frost we woke to the next morning.
As much of an introvert as my heart and soul are I am overflowing with love for the capacity of beauty in humankind. As much as it hurts to be around people sometimes (and I truly hate that part of my personality) I was reminded this weekend of tribe and solidarity and a sense of belonging I haven’t felt around strangers in a very long time.
And then the gentleness of my shopmates with their children. Take the stress of camping with five kiddos and multiply that by not having running water or electricity at the camp site. By a thunderstorm Friday night that blew booths over and flooded the tents with icy water. By having to balance making sure the children’s needs were met more than just food and water, but spending time with them, looking them in their eyes, and tuning into their individual needs in a sea of over 3,200 people. Of taking time to walk with them and treat them with kindness when nerves were thin and bodies were tight from standing for 12 hours at the booth.
J and G, you two are absolute rock stars and you melted my heart a million times this weekend. I watched you be the best parents you could be under the mountainous undertaking of vending at a Faire with all your little ones with you. and you were more successful than you realize. Be gentle with yourselves and trust that you are doing far better than you think.
So many doors were opened this weekend, and each one of us were fundamental to making that happen. I look forward to the next season, when we can build an approved permanent structure to vend from and camp in while there. This is the beginning of something I didn’t dare to dream of as a teenager who had just discovered the magic of faires. It’s dirty and gritty work vending. Busy and overwhelming and exhausting. But we get to do it surrounded by the best people, and I can’t wait to see where this takes us.
A Burd in Flight 