Christmas Tree Bonfire

Saturday, January 8, 2000
One year ago: Party at Earl's Place
Two years ago: Reunion

Getting ready for Jack's arrival got me moving this morning. I took the trash out, picked up stuff in my bedroom, and did the dishes (I didn't want him to recognize the cereal bowls and glasses he'd used last week!) He showed up in the early afternoon -- I was watching out the window for him. He was able to get to my place earlier than I'd expected, because he'd dropped his older daughter A---- at the Greyhound bus station downtown; she was going to spend the night down at her mother's place in Olympia.

Jack was hungry -- no lunch yet! -- so I made us salami and cheese sandwiches. It looked sunny when I peeked out the window, so we discussed the errands we wanted to do, planned out a route, and decided to walk around Capitol Hill.

• The liquor store: run by the state. I don't remember the last time I was in the liquor store; maybe when I was making purchases for the hospitality suite at Potlatch 6? Jack wanted to get some Wild Turkey to refill his hip flask, so that Victor, AP, and Andy wouldn't be disappointed at Vanguard tonight. An impulse buy was a bottle of cask-strength single malt scotch. That won't go to Vanguard with us.
• Hi-score: My friend Earl told me about this new arcade a few days ago, and it lived up to the advance billing. I loved the old pinball games! and Jack liked the driving games. We met Earl on our way out the door, coming in to spend some quarters himself.
• Starbucks: This was on our list, but I forgot why and kept on walking. (We needed to get some coffee to use in my coffee maker tomorrow morning. We ended up buying at Safeway, later.) This is a new Starbucks on the west side of Capitol Hill. They took over a failed Boston Market Chicken place. Why did that company go out of business?
• Beer specialty store: We stopped here on impulse. Jack talked beer with the guy working there. We walked out, then turned around and came back in -- Jack couldn't resist buying a bottle of mead, imagining some dinner party where we'll serve venison, and have the mead with dessert. That sounds like a good evening!
• Mid-century modern furniture: I was the one who stepped in here on impulse. I'm on a mailing list for this topic now; it interests me because my mom had some modern dishes and furniture when we were growing up. This store only had a few pieces in that category, though. Most of it was wrecked, nasty stuff from someone's basement.
• Twice Sold Tales: This store was on the way, so we looked around, but didn't buy anything.
• Toshi's Teriyaki: We'd eaten lunch before starting this walk, but it was close to dinnertime now, so we picked up some food and took it home.

I was glad we'd left on our walk when we did. It was sprinkling when we left the arcade, but we needed the exercise and activity, and a walk is a good chance for talking.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *    *

We ate early because the first event of the evening was supposed to start at six o'clock. My friend Wally Glenn was organizing a big Christmas Tree Burn, at Golden Gardens, the beach park west of Ballard. I drove, so that Jack could partake of whatever he wanted without concern.

There were folks gathered around a firepit, with a burning Christmas tree in it, but no sign of Wally. It was spitting rain, and cold and windy. We chatted with various folks; I'd met some at the Santa Rampage, and others knew me from online. Jack shared his flask and the homebrew he'd brought along, and played his new backpacker's guitar.

As the wind picked up, we huddled together. Peter and Greg got out their umbrellas and we used them as windbreaks. Greg works at the IMDB (I think he mentioned this a few times). My old Cacophony friend Ashley turned up, too! But his folding umbrella immediately was collapsed by the powerful wind.

I knew things were getting close to starting when I saw various Fremont Arts Council and Cirque du Flambe folks, and my friend Luke. Still no Wally, though.

We burned the trees that were there one at a time. The trees really varied in moisture content, so some burned at a reasonable pace, and some went off like a rocket! When a tree was blazing, everyone stepped back, and there was enough light to see the crowd. All too soon it would collapse to embers, though.

Finally Wally and two trucks pulled up, towing large trailers full of trees. "Trees! trees! Trees!" the crowd chanted. Lots of people ran across the sand to the parking lot, to help in the unloading. Jack participated in this, getting sand all over himself, but I wimped out and remained behind the umbrella windbreak. Then the trucks went away for another load, and the process was repeated. I don't know where Wally got all those trees!

At last the trees were arranged according to David Hartz's specifications, in a pile on the sand. I think there over fifty trees! The crew from the fire circus got out their propane torches and flame throwers and lit one end of the pile, as we dashed across the beach to stand between the fire and the water.

What a gorgeous spectacle! Heat and light made up for all the cold, damp waiting. We burnt sparklers and danced and jumped around. If we hadn't been going to Vanguard, we'd have stayed and partied around the bonfire they built with the branches and logs. (But I was cold, and needed to use the bathroom after all that time.)

*     *     *     *     *     *     *    *

Vanguard, the monthly social gathering for Science Fiction fans (and folks who like to talk), was held at Jerry and Suzle's house this month, and in an unprecedented action, had been moved from the first Saturday night to the second, because of New Years.

There were a few less people than usual, which always happens when the party is moved from the normal venue of Jane and Vonda's house. That was ok, though, since Jerry and Suzle's house is a bit smaller. We chatted and had snacks. The smoking area was set up out in the garage (how can even the garage be tidy?) and I spent some time shivering out there while talking to Andy Hooper and Victor Gonzales.

Jack had expressed his intention of getting toasted, but he never did get too drunk. This frustrates him slightly; he thinks he'll keep drinking or whatever, then ends up cutting himself off. I knew he'd had a bit though, when we were talking about TV and he said, "I really like Homicide!" I said, "Don't you mean Law and Order?" "Oh, yeah, that's what I meant." I knew he's not that wild about Homicide, but he's a big Law and Order Fan. "I like the twist at the end."

I had fun talking to Marcia Goldtoff. She works for the public health service, and always knows which bugs are creeping around town.

It was late. I think we were among the last folks to leave. We made it home, and showered to get rid of the sand.

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