Call It What You Want...

Is over once again.

Most of the stories will have to tell themselves at other times and in other places.

But imagine if you will those questionable characters you see above as some of your ancestors. And shudder just a little.

It was a glorious weekend; I lost track of all the wonderful conversations I had with guests. For the first time, I found myself more able to connect and engage adults than children. This was because we were a little lacking in "interactives" -- chores for the kids to do, appropriate period items for the kids to play with, etc. -- and because a lot of the talk about the Civil War was more theoretical. Aside from learning some very interesting information about a time period I don't know much about, I also gained some valuable successes in interpreting to adults, connecting with things they know already and then bringing in things they don't.

What about costumed third-person interpretation? Hmm. I like it on occasion for a special project -- I think it gives our guests an "inside peek", letting them feel "in on" what's going on behind the scenes. I think that if you did it all the time, it wouldn't be special. And there wouldn't be the other side, the really terrific first-person interactions, where guests feel like they "actually" met someone from history.

I haven't worked three days in a row since the preschool closed. And I certainly haven't worked three days in a row at the Prairie with more than 1000 guests in, well, 15 years. We had something like 1,400 school kids on Friday (plus other guests), and near 4,000 per day on Saturday and Sunday. The weather was perfect, there was a lot going on, and I think just about everyone had a good time.

See what a few days' perspective will do for a person?

Says Aili: "I shot me a Yankee!"
"I got one, too," replies Mel.

John wants us to know soldiering is serious business.

Kyle wants to know why spoon bonnets went out of style.