April 03, 2006

Like 40,000 other people, we had the bright idea of invading Elmira’s Maple Syrup Festival just before noon on Saturday, completely unprepared for the cold weather. The wind was brisk and none of us wore enough layers. Consequently, we huddled close together and shuffled down the crowded streets like a pack of carnivorous penguins ready to devour baby seals.

Oddly, we couldn’t find any baby seals (only elk and chicken), so we took refuge from the cold by rushing into the antique market. At the entrance, a fierce, old lady stamped our hands with considerable anger before letting us in. The pain was worth it. Inside, we found a treasure throve of ironic buttons and ancient, wooden rosaries that weighted nearly a kilogram.

I immediately bought the rosary.

“You’re just going to pose naked with it, aren’t you?” Anna asked, groaning loudly.

“What an excellent idea,” I said.

We left Elmira an hour later armed with a new faith-based project, maple syrup, and five egos trampled by the cold. And now everything I eat is doused in sweetness.

Elsewhere:

• 40,000 People Can’t Be Wrong (Paul’s entry)
• My (few) flickr photos
• Elmira Maple Syrup Festival Website
• psychicgypsy’s photos (she was there too)