Steve, Oysterville Host
It’s funny how a chance conversation can stick in your head and overshadow the rest of a dayful (if that’s a word) of great discussions and off-hand remarks. That’s the way it was yesterday at one of the celebratory Fourth of July picnics we attended.
We were saying our goodbyes to an Oysterville group that included Bradley, Dan, and Katherine. They were talking about the Ocean Park parade and Katherine mentioned that she was still hopeful that she could convince Greg to sponsor an Oysterville float some year.
Oysterville Hostess Martie
Her idea was to have groups of people standing along the length of the float, trash- talking and laughing about the others, and then changing groups and immediately trash-talking and laughing about the people they had just been so friendly with. “Wouldn’t it be great!” she laughed and the rest of us laughed, too, but with varying degrees of heartfeltness (if that’s a word.)
I guess I’m not quite ready to put a humorous twist on the fact that Oysterville is becoming more and more fractured in terms of those who get along and those who wouldn’t be caught in the same room with one another. It’s not that I think it’s ever been all sweetness and light and love your neighbor as yourself. We are definitely a village of strong individuals with independent and often opposing opinions. In my memory we always have been.
But, we’ve also managed to come to consensus about most things, to separate personal desires from the good of the whole, to enjoy one another socially, and all those other things that make a collection of disparate personalities able to function within a community. Now… maybe not so much. As much as outsiders perceive us as some sort of Brigadoon, we are definitely a microcosm of the culture as a whole. Katherine’s float idea probably is more on the mark than I’d like to admit.
Heady thoughts for an Independence Day weekend.
Anybody know how to make a 6′-0″ long fiberglass oysters shell that my dog could pull? That’s MY idea of a float. I don’t think that anyone is interested in the tempests that the very few here feel they need to stir up our teacup-sized town.
Actually, you’d be surprised at how many people are interested in our teacup here! AND, how many are busy stirring it up! For sure I never need to be concerned about blog material! lol But I do think Bhima would look great pulling a giant oyster shell. Somehow I picture his throw-toy on a stick out in front of him — sort of like the carrot and the donkey.
Boy, that would have to be one big stick to hold Bhima’s blue ball out there!
Remarks attributed to me were not anything I actually said. First, I never suggested that Greg do a float. Second, I never mentioned trash-talking and exchanging places on the float–that was another member of our party that day. Third, what I actually said was that a flat-bed truck with everyone arguing would be very representative For such a small town, there’s a great deal of differing opinions and feuding going on! I don’t think feuding is hilarious; just thought the float idea was sadly apt.
I stand corrected and apologize. That was my memory of the conversation — or at least its intent — but I purposely did not quote you (or use your last name) because I hadn’t taken notes nor used a tape recorder. I think your idea is pretty funny on the one hand — whether float or flatbed — and I think it points up a human side of Oysterville that many people lose sight of or, if they are visitors, just don’t see. “Sadly apt” puts it wonderfully.
Thanks for sharing. I think it’s wonderful that you’ve saved so many things. Shirley Hill