Oh, the People You’ll Meet!
John and I are vendors at LOTS of festivals, fairs, craft shows, author showcases, etc. At each of these book events, we have the privilege of meeting a very diverse group of people. I’m happy to report that 99.9% of these folks are the most delightful, salt-of-the-earth types with whom you would ever care to hobnob. (I think it’s best if I don’t elaborate on the other 0.1%. Lord, please give me patience!)
Not surprisingly, at the end of each event, there are always a handful of people who stand out in our minds. I would love to introduce you to a few of the fine folks we met recently in Crisfield, Md. at their BIG Little Townfest.
George and Cindy Carder
A vendor at the booth next to ours invites a couple to take a look at this local company’s seamless gutters. The husband declines the invitation, stating that he and his wife are from Tennessee.
Hey, I know that accent. When these folks speak, they sound exactly like someone I know—me! Ah, that unmistakable regional drawl—sweet music to my ears.
They stop at our booth and read the first sentence of You Can’t Judge a Bee by Its Color.
“Among the hills of Tennessee,
A beehive hangs beneath a tree.“
One sentence. That’s all it takes for them to make a decision. They buy the book and promise that it will be placed on a bookshelf with “all their most special books.” I am honored—and humbled.
Meet George and Cindy Carder—residents from “the hills of Tennessee” (Johnson City to be exact) and fellow connoisseurs of all things Southern. What a joy to meet “neighbors” from just across the NC/TN state line.
Eric Long
John and I are chatting with several folks at our booth. We’re both quite busy but not too busy for me to notice a guy standing a few yards away taking multiple photos of us. His camera looks expensive. A professional photographer? Perhaps.
Discreetly, I whisper to John, “Who is that dude? Ever seen him before?” John shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head no in reply.
We make a book sale. Yippee! Autographed picture book in tow, the folks depart. The mystery “dude” approaches us, introduces himself, compliments our booth, and offers to take a photo of the two of us. We accept his kind offer.
Meet Eric Long—retired professional photographer for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Specifically, his job entailed work for both the Museum of Natural History and the Air and Space Museum. Eric resides in Crisfield, Md.
What a fine gentleman. And what talent!
(I regret that we didn’t take a picture of Eric. The next time our paths cross, we’ll take care of this oversight.)
Photo credit: Eric Long
Crystal Raphael
It’s hot as blue blazes today. A lady walks up to our booth looking as fresh as a daisy. Instead of my normal polite greeting, I blurt out, “Why are you not dripping with sweat?” Before she can offer an explanation, the lady’s sister responds, “This is her kind of weather.”
What? Did I hear correctly? Who in their right mind likes high humidity and temperatures in the 90s? This, of course, necessitates a follow-up question. “Where do you live?” I ask.
Smiling, she responds, “Nigeria.”
“NIGERIA! You’re a long way from home. What, pray tell, are
you doing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland?” I quiz her.
Meet Crystal Raphael—a missionary from Africa. She and her family are waiting to take the ferry to Tangier Island. There, they will share about their mission work. And when they return home, Crystal will share my picture book with the children in Abuja, Nigeria.
Amazing story. Amazing gal.
Photo credit: John
George and Cindy. Eric. Crystal. They’re my kind of people.
I suppose we’ve all had experiences like this. You meet someone for the first time, and your personalities instantly “click.” It’s one of life’s richest blessings from God. And I am grateful.
Now, . . . I wonder who John and I will meet on our next adventure? Can’t wait to find out!