An “Arts in the Park” Thank-You!!

An “Arts in the Park” Thank-You!!

The build-up was progressive; the anticipation was stressful; the execution was glorious!

This past weekend was our car parking extravaganza at Arts-in-the-Park. Despite the threat of weather, we had two days of happy participants and organized parking. 

Many thanks to all who volunteered. Special thanks to Barbara Jennings, who led the team serving at the City Stadium parking lot, and to Will Burk, who led the way at Dogwood Dell. Both parking locations were very busy, and the rush/retreat was handled without incident. We had many parking veterans this year as well as first timers and several special volunteers. Thank you, first timers and all our faithful returning folks. Thank you to those who pulled double and triple shifts! A BIG thank you goes to members of the AA Wednesday night Men’s Bible Study, who joined us Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

I received generous and consistent feedback from visitors as well, and the event coordinators say that this may have been “the best and smoothest parking job yet!” All in all, it was a wonderful two days of service and a blessing of community for all servers and attendees.

To commemorate the occasion, Jenny has penned (while she was parking, as I understand it) a poem (ala Dr. Seuss) in tribute to our adventure.

That Bill I will,
That Bill I will,
All on about the parking still:
Do you like to park the cars?
Do you like them near or fars?

I do not like them, Bill I will.
But I will park them, even still.

Will you park them in the rain?
Will you park them on a train?
Will the drivers make you go insane?

Will you park them in a box?
Though non-handicappers try to outfox?
Will you park them at the stadium,
Midst a lot-shift pandemonium?

Will you park them in the Dell?
Will you park them all so swell?
I will park them, yes I will,
I will park them, Father Bill.

I will park them in a pinch,
I will park them inch by inch.
Stand down Vendors, it's a cinch.
I will park them in a lurch,
Sunday shift means pass from church.

In the hot sun, it's no fun,
In the rain, it's such a pain.
In the heat, on aching feet,
I will park them, you will see 't.
I will park them, Bill I will.
I will park them even still.

Here's Will I can, fresh from dashboard cam:
He is the man, that Will I can;
Laying out his master plan
of cars in rows like sardine can.

And nothing more seamless
than that stadium team-less,
Parking in hot sun keeping cool,
when overflow traffic breaks the rules
and cars outnumber parkers 100/2.

Yes, consider yourself lucky
to park cars with a Stuckey -
or any of the many, many plucky
Creator folk who made a good show.
We can admit to what we know:
It's fun to tell folks where to go!

I will try it, I will see.
Arts in the Park is right for me.
It's not so bad, though some may talk,
When the next day they can't walk.

Thank you all who donned a vest,
To come, help out, and give their best.
We are grateful to God we pulled it off,
and for next year we heartily--COUGH
We heartily agree...
That next year we shall wait and see!

One thing is for sure and that's this song:
our Creator Family has it going on. 
With thanks and praise to our God above,
We did it in His service, sacrifice, and LOVE! 


Parked.

- Fr. Bill+
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