RAIN

As it has been raining, and we have been otherwise committed recently, we had our adventures this week and weekend indoors mostly. Graduations and graduation parties took the place of what would normally have been our time to gather facts and pictures for a new post. Still, the rain has brought to the front of my mind a time when the rain did nothing to prevent our exploration of the outdoors.

You may notice as you read on that this post is exceptionally devoid of pictures. The reason for this is two-fold. First the events which I am about to recount came long before my the idea of this blog had originally sprouted in my brain. Secondly, it was raining... no, pouring buckets is more like it. Thus preventing any sort of photographic evidence of this particular trip from being gathered.

The events to which I am referring unfolded early in my relationship with Kelly. We were young and without reservations about getting soggy, muddy, and messy all together. For those who are reading this for suggestions on where to take your budding family on such rainy day: Read elsewhere! This is not something I would suggest for you, nor would I consider dragging my little ones along on such an outing.

Kelly and I had been dating for a few weeks and there was little any person, or force of nature for that matter, could do to tear us from each other's sides. We had, on the day in question, laid out plans to explore the seemingly unending trails that wind through Rocky Ridge County Park. To our dismay the weather forecast had called for a chance of thunderstorms throughout the day. But, with unwavering determination to see our goals met, headed out on, what appeared to be at that time, a rather sunny day.

Upon arriving at the park, as if triggered by us getting out of the car, the first raindrops of the day began to fall; slowly at first then faster and more fully. Looking back on this occasion I find something a bit mystical about our decision making at that point in our lives. More recently we would have hopped back into the car and debated for an hour or so about what to do, the rain having ruined the day. But that was not to be the case here. As our romance was in it's infantile stages, we were still testing each other. Neither of us wanting to admit defeat, or discomfort at the thought of getting soaked to the bone, or being struck by lightning, both of us ran out into the rain and damned the consequences.

We had parked near a path that ran under cut out for some high voltage power lines. Feeling very alive in our youth, it came to our minds that it would be an excellent test of fate to run the length of them within the park, in the midst of the soaking downpour, lighting flashes, and thunder that accompanied them. This seemed quite the Romeo and Juliette thing to do. Idiotic, if you were to ask either of us now. Yet in that moment of swirling wind, cascading rain, and brash explosions of electricity, our young bucking green idyllic love felt most at home. It seemed to perfectly capture the essence of what we felt between ourselves in those early days.

We ran and talked and just played. We got on the subject of baptism. She was baptized in the faith of her parents and me in mine. This brought on a bit of a playful wrestling match which ended in my baptizing her in a near by puddle, which was of little consequence since we were already soaked through. We fell on the ground and laughed until we cried which was also unnoticeable in the rain. When we had regathered our composure we ran on like school children shouting and laughing down the trail, paying no mind to who might hear us, because the park had been emptied by the storm.

We ran on to the overlook. This overlook is by far, not the most scenic or grand in world, or even in the area. All you can see from there is the majority of East York. Still it held special significance as we stood perched and alone at the top of our world. Here we could see, the mall where she'd worked and I had gone to meet her from time to time when we were in school together, the various department stores we'd gone shopping with our parents in, and the many roads we had driven separately... until then. From that vantage it was difficult to distinguish what was what. We gazed for a moment, I holding her from behind, deciphering where things were. Looking back on that moment it is hard to recall that feeling, seeing all that lied ahead, yet being fantastically apart from it.

We were lucky enough that day to not be harmed by the storm, and I certainly would not suggest that other people risk there lives so foolishly. I tell you this story to convey a point. It has nothing to do with risking ones life or even dancing in the rain. It is that: Life is, as a rainy day, what you make of it. The people you surround yourself with and the adventures you have with them are up to you.

For our first post we wanted to do something topical. As many of you know, this weekend was Mother's Day. Kelly
suggested that we visit the Mother's Day Street Fair in York City PA (as she knew it) which was actually called "The 36th annual Olde York Street Fair, which in fact does claim to celebrate Mother's Day, so I can understand the confusion. In any case, we set out Sunday afternoon, after visiting our mothers of course, for the "36th annual Olde York Street Fair Mother's Day Walk Around With Loads of Strange People Buying Random things Festival" (I came up with my own name since it seemed like the thing to do).

Food vendors and merchants of all sorts were present and like most fairs,
carnivals, and festivals there was live music as well. So many talented local people come out to perform at these sorts of events, it's really something to see. Unlike some festivals, this one has a specific "Kid's Corner" which is great for the restless little ones, and is a great way to have some mother/child themed fun! However, what really struck me about this event was not an explosion of mother directed gratitude, but the beauty of downtown York. I've been down West
Market St. many times, yet not till yesterday was I aware of just how beautiful it could be. My memories of that area are filled will honking cars, lousy traffic, and the occasional visit to the pawn shop. To see the the street completely shut down allowing only foot traffic (lots of foot traffic(estemated over ten thousand attended)), vendors pedaling their wares, called to mind why the street was originally named "Market".


This part of York holds exceptional historical significance. Founded in 1741 York (or Yorktown as it was known then) served as the temporary capital of our nation during the Revolutionary War. The Articles of Confederation were drafted here during that time, and so, this being the first official document naming our country as the "United States of America", many pro-York historians have claimed that York was indeed our nation's first capital. In truth, it falls closer to fourth, after
Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Lancaster. Still, the historical significance cannot be denied when you stand in front of, or even inside of, the Golden Plough Tavern, which stands much today as it did then. Here the Conway Cabal (a plot to remove George Washington from power) is said to have originated.


Fascinating historical facts aside, the chance to see this part of the city stripped bare of its usual modern adornments is at lest worth the several minute walk to get there from whatever parking you can find. In many ways this fair is exactly like every other fair you've ever been too, but it's focus on family fun and the things that make York great, set it apart from most. So if you are in mood to get out and enjoy a stroll with the family in an atmosphere that can be described as both historic and festive, this is your spot!

FOR DIRECTIONS click here

This Event runs 1 day : 12:30- 6PM On Mother's Day

WARNINGS: Bring Sunscreen! If you have small children, bring strollers... FOR ALL OF THEM. Large crowds (although well Policed).

FUN RATING: 6 out of 10

Charter

Kelly and I were talking about all of our favorite places in Central PA yesterday, all those little hikes, overlooks, festivals, and little diners, that only the locals really know. We thought it might be interesting to spend the summer documenting those places. So what we'll be doing over the future weeks is bringing our cameras and camcorders to make a record of what an awesome place Central PA really is!