Community Day

Sunday we went to the Annual Sylvan Community Day. It is held every year on the Sunday after Memorial Day and, reportedly, has never been rained out. It was one of those surreal kind of occasions that make you feel like you're in another time. Old blues songs playing while kids and families gathered in the park. Snowcones, hot dogs, and homemade ice cream. And of course, these...turtle races. My friends from "the city" probably think I'm joking. I'm not. I thought Ty was joking about how serious the competition is. He wasn't. We didn't actually catch a turtle for the races because we didn't think we'd make it back from church in time to race. It was clear, however, that just about everyone else there had carefully selected the perfect creature. Almost every kid had an explanation for why his/her turtle was most likely to win.

They painted some rings on the ground, and everyone put their turtle in the tube right in the middle. They lifted the tube, and off the little guys (or gals - couldn't really tell) went. Some kids cheered their turtles on. Some, like these, just prayed for a winner.

Some turtles seemed to get the idea, while others never moved from their original spot. They actually had 3 "heats" and a final. Can you believe it?

Anna didn't seem to mind that she didn't have one. Some of the other kids offered to let her hold theirs, but she wasn't having it. It's probably just as well, 'cause another kid's turtle turned on him and bit his finger, and he wailed like the whole thing had been chomped off. Anna seemed to enjoy her kazoo just as much, and I'd much rather have her bring a kazoo home than a turtle.

Next time I'll share about the frog races. You're on the edge of your seat, I know.