Pawtucket Arts Festival ~ RI Chinese Dragon Boat Race and Taiwan Festival.

Yes, I had a cool morning this Saturday 9/10/11, remembering fond old memories and creating new ones~ Sometimes we get up in the morning with no plans for the day! Or, maybe we just know that we need an oil change in our car, so it can run smoothly and with no issues. After all we travel to work back and forth every day, and that car is our primary resource to make that happen, unless of course you take the RIPTA bus. I did that at one point for years, and my car was almost maintenance free then. But that is not the case today! I also have been told that the hockey season has started and I am needed every Saturday from now until March 2012. That car has to take me to Coventry to babysit one or 2 out of 3 grandkids! One or the other will be practicing or playing ice hockey. I love my Camry! Did I just say March 2012? That sounds like a long time for such a commitment ~~~LOL My daughter is right! I should move there to Coventry! I try to make that decision, and I bet you are thinking of moving to Coventry. No, the decision to bring my car for an oil change. Thinking about it, while my eyes still reluctant, slowly open and I brew some strong espresso coffee in my over used and old coffee maker! That Krups k-cup coffee won't do it this morning! I need a big mug! And another one upon my return. I start the shower and proceed to carry my over tired body inside the tub. That water running down feels so good and warm, it is actually putting me back to sleep. But I am determined to change that oil, which I think by now is very black and dangerous. Although no signal is coming through to alert me. The filter must be black too, and tires, what about the tires? Oh yes, my car has 4 tires, it doesn't fly like an airplane. I need to check the air on those 4 tires. I miss my father, he used to do that for me. That phone call was system automatic! But now I am on my own, and Dave. Who is Dave you may ask? Dave from Apex Tire Center, the man! So, I drink some coffee, get dressed, while watching the news about the 9/11 tragedy, 10 years later! Now, I definitely want to stay home, so comfortable I am! But I have to go. So I drive to Apex Tire Center, and there is smiley Dave, waiting for me. With no scheduled appointment, I asked how long for an oil change? He says oh, about 1 hr 1/2, kind of busy today. I said fine, I am going for a walk. But I sat down first in the waiting room to test my wireless notebook, to check facebook, and it didn't work. Of course not! What was I thinking? Carrying that heavy thing, I just thought I would be bored, that's all. But I watched TV a bit, more 9/11 news, and then I asked Dave to put the useless notebook in my car, and I started my walk towards downtown Pawtucket. Apex memories started flashing through my head, making me very nostalgic. You see, I worked at Apex for 20 years, on a part-time basis.

I kept walking, and vendors were  all over Main St and Roosevelt Ave setting up their booths, in preparation for the Pawtucket Arts Festival. It was neat to see that, as I never get up that early on Saturday mornings, if I can help it! Yes, I love to sleep late on weekends. Working for Fleet Bank during the day, and at Apex Store at night, I never got to enjoy those times. Now, it's me and my best friend. Me and my camera walking and walking, thinking, remembering, photo shooting every moment I pass through, and save it in my memory! Watching the vendors, men and women hard at work. Streets closing down, no cars allowed, all I can hear is the sound of the early morning!  The sound of Blackstone River, the voices of the people so engaged in everything they are doing. After an hour gone by, I decide to walk back and then, I hear this voice yelling my name Isabel Isabel~ I look up and there is Dave in the middle of the street signaling at me to walk back. Such good service! I am thinking now my car is ready and I am going home with some cool photo shots. But God had another idea, another plan for me! God wanted me to take more pictures, to see more, to experience more of this wonderful city in this awesome state, RI. Dave told me I needed a new belt, a new this and a new that. Well, Dave knows best, I trust Dave! My 2003 Camry knows Dave very well too! We both know that Dave is our friend and protector. My father is looking down on me and he knows best too! My grandkids need a safe Camry. So I said to the men in charge, my angel mechanics, go ahead and do what you have to do! He said another hour, is that OK? I said another walk downtown? He said No, instead to go see the dragon boat races. Take the shuttle bus at the Apex parking lot, and go take more pictures. So I did exactly what he recommended. Can you imagine I never saw that? I drive by School St every day, going by that pier without knowing all these years about it. All I did was work at Apex, listening to customers coming in to brag about what was going on outside during these festivities on these special days! But now is my turn to see it all. I never thought about my camera dying, that the battery could be low, I never even checked that. Oh no, my best friend stop working for me? No way! So, I took the shuttle bus, filled with curiosity, sitting next to people like me; men, women and children of all ethnic groups and races. God knew I would love that. It was an amazing cultural experience! I was so awaken by then, I made sure my eyes were open and alert. Even my lazy eye didn't disappoint me. All I wanted that moment was for my grandchildren to be there. But as all of you know, hockey season has started. That will be a separate blog, a separate story, I promise! ♥ For now, you'll know the rest of this story, if you check my Facebook page and view my photo album "Pawtucket Arts Festival - RI Chinese Dragon Boat Race" It is actually a photo journal. I hope you like it! And here is a slideshow of that same photo album, without the journal and in a higher speed. Enjoy it! I would love to read your comments, ok?. Life surprises are always welcome, and this morning  I had a big one! God makes our plans some days. He can plan my days anytime! But we have to work hard too, and face each day with a positive attitude. Otherwise, God will be very disappointed with us. This was a very Good Day!
Thank you God ♥!

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