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entertain--to receive a
guest; to show hospitality to; to amuse; to divert.
amuse--to entertain
agreeably; to occupy pleasantly; to divert.
My thoughts for this
week’s column, while trying to bring a concept into focus, led me to the
dictionary. I was processing the fact that each person’s definition of
entertainment or amusement is different. Each of us finds amusement in
different things.
The Wood
Festival committee worked very hard this year to ensure there was
something for everyone over the weekend. Thus, each person would find
entertainment from something within the variety.
My concept came into
better focus when I spied the final word used in each of the definitions
above: “to divert.”
Entertainment
and amusement serve as a diversion. From what? Reality. The reasons we
all find different things amusing or entertaining is because we all have
different views of reality.
If you stayed home and
didn’t participate in the Wood Festival events, thinking “boring” or “no
big deal,” then you chose not to participate in a brief suspension of
reality. If you attended the festival and had the same thoughts, then
you also chose not to really participate.
See, the important part
of small town festivals is the diversion; the break from worry, work,
the pressures of the world. It is a choice to enjoy it; to allow
yourself to be amused, entertained, diverted.
Many times I
have discussed how important I feel it is to escape every day life. If
you didn’t take advantage of this weekend’s opportunity, I feel you have
deprived yourself--and not only yourself, but your family and your
community.
What is your
reality? How are you handling it? Bucky
Arthur’s
reality led him to walk into the Wood County State Police Barracks with
two .45’s strapped on his waist on Sunday. Lulu Helmick’s reality led
her to walk in front of a moving car last week--reportedly on purpose.
I’m not
saying participation in a festival could have prevented either of these
events, but I do feel that a single bout of laughter, a kind word, or an
extra long hug can divert suicidal tendencies; and perhaps a strong
sense of community, faith and security would help keep some others
grounded.
I know a single funnel
cake can lift my spirits for at least an hour, and that sitting in the
hot sun on a county park’s hillside is better for my spirit than sitting
at a desk looking at a computer monitor. I know a extra thick chocolate
milkshake can keep me from losing my cool, and a hug when I need it can
help me make it through a tough day.
My reality
leads me often to worry. I worry about our community, our country, our
world. I have fears we (as individuals and a community) could run out of
money, come under attack, flood, fight, lose. I’m afraid we’ll lose our
rights, afraid of martial law, afraid of environmental breakdowns,
afraid that people will vanish “in the blink of an eye,” and I will be
left behind.
I fear that others in
our community have desperate thoughts that may lead them to desperate
acts.
We have a
choice to choose our reality. We have a choice to change it--not just
during a festival, but every day. We have the choice to reach out to
those who look each day for nothing more than a kind word, a sense of
worth, or for some reassurance. We have a choice to find amusement in
small blessings, and entertainment in dealing with others.
This
weekend, we had an opportunity to play in the mud, dance, sing, tap our
toes, hug our friends, dress up, hold hands, walk, wave, and spend. No
matter what your worries, you should have taken advantage of this
service to your community. You may have found yourself entertained,
diverted from your reality--even if only for a moment.
Then your
burdens would feel lighter.
* * * * *
Thank you to
the Wood Festival Committee for the hard work and planning put in to
providing the community with a wonderful diversion from reality. So many
of us had fun, and were entertained. Well done.
During the
concert’s pre-show, MC
Toby
Wagoner
asked the crowd to offer their thanks and suggestions for the festival.
I offer many thanks and a single suggestion.
If you ever
visit Disney World, you may discover that vendors and stores there sell
almost everything--almost. Disney World does not sell gum.
I would suggest asking
vendors and parading floats to skip the gum in the future. I came close
to losing my flip-flops several times.
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