A Lovely Evening Under the Full Taurus Moon

Rick Teague, Lindsay McKinnon, and me mugging before the games begin.

It is a treat of considerable magnitude these days to get outside on a pretty day and mingle closely with old friends and family. Last night Lee Hunsaker gave a few hundred of us that opportunity. The occasion was the periodic Hoot 'n' Holler. This one was in Wasena Park, properly distanced, masks worn (most of the time), and performers at the ready.

Susan and Becky chat.

This was Linda's and my first real date/date, the kind where you ask somebody out, buy tickets, show up, and are entertained. We've done a lot of the non-date/dates of late, but these are strange times and you take the real thing when you can get it.

Hoot 'n' Holler has been around for several years, but this was my first time, even though I wrote the first story in the region about it when Lee decided this would be the next step in her creative life. 

The premise is to give local writers a shot at stardom by giving them the stage to read or recite their works. Often that means funny. Last night, not so much. There was a serious tinge to the stories that bordered on depressing occasionally (and looooong at other times).

Most of us were duly impressed with the amount of creative work that went into staging this event outside with proper social distancing. It wasn't simply a matter of putting up a stage and getting it properly lighted, but the sound system had to be right for the different voices that would be entertaining us and each of the "boxes" holding the audience had to be lined off, stakes driven and lights strung. 

All of this on a night when we were looking at Taurus full moon. A little spooky, that last part, because it tends to make Tauruses more passionate than usual and in LindaK's case, that's guilding the lilly.

Still, despite some of the shortcomings (the cold among them; we left early, freezing), I got to see my friends Lindsay McKinnon,  Rick Teague and Becky Hepler, Susan K, Lee, and several others and hang out in a truly pleasant setting. I recommend. 'Twas a night to remember.

LindaK and Rick share a laugh.

LindaK, Rick, Becky and Susan post for the Nikon.

LindaK, Rick, Becky and moi. Buddies, all. What's that behind Pampa's head?

A pretty good band warmed up the crowd, this time with "Baker Street," one of my favorite songs.

The full Taurus moon shone on us.

Lee Hunsaker takes a moment with Pampa.

Sometimes Lindsay is
simply traffic-stopping.

Julie warms up the crowd as the festivities begin. 

David Rakes tells a funny story. Who knew?

Me and the girls in the band: Lindsay, LindaK and Susan. 

We're talking first date here. First real date.