My trip to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
First of all, I went to Grandfather Mountain hoping to meet as many of Diana Gabaldon's fans as I could. The T-shirt (my own creation) reads, "I'm a fan of Diana Gabaldon and the OUTLANDER series!", and it was very effective in attracting the attention of OUTLANDER fans and their family members. A number of people asked if Diana was there at the Games, but I told them, "No, she's in Flagstaff this week. Writing, I hope." <g> (Even in the midst of all the excitement over the TV series, she still has a book to finish!) I always enjoy talking to other fans, especially at an event like this, and I met at least a couple dozen of them.
We watched a demonstration of border collies herding sheep, which was very entertaining. My friend Cathy MacGregor told me years ago that I have a "border collie personality", and she's right. <g>
What does that mean, exactly? Well, border collies are known as intelligent, hard-working, and tenacious, and always trying to herd the sheep in more or less the same direction. That description happens to fit very well with what I do as Section Leader of Diana's section of the Compuserve Books and Writers Community, a position I've held for almost five years.
And speaking of Compuserve....I met Julia Miller, a forum member from Georgia, and she gave me this little rubber gavel as a present. It says "Czarina of Traffic" on one side, and "GONK! Your message has been moved" on the other side. I laughed when I saw it. How very appropriate! Thanks, Julia! <g>
Tossing the caber. I watched them do this, and I still don't know how they managed it. Amazing!
Here I am with my dad. He was a good sport about the whole thing, and helped get my scooter over some rough terrain.
My mom, relaxing at the Games. Note our matching OUTLANDER T-shirts!
A pipe band. Gotta love those tall men in kilts! <g>
Piper.
Part of the fun of these Highland Games is walking around looking at all the different clan booths. Here's a collection of antique Scottish weaponry that I saw at one of the clan tents. I wonder if Arch Bug's axe would have looked like this one?
At the Clan Fraser booth, they had a basket of Brach's strawberry candies. I had to laugh when I saw them. Talk about symbolism! "Honor and courage and constancy" and all that. <g>
I had a great time, and I would definitely encourage any of you who live in the vicinity of western North Carolina to come to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games some day. It was fun!
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