A Wonderful Weekend

This past weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) was a really wonderful weekend for lots of folks.  And, a lot of hard work.  Not so much, hard work for me, but hard work for many.  This was the weekend of the show and sale of the Denver Gem and Mineral Guild (DGMG) at the Jefferson County Fair Grounds.  The first show and sale since the beginning of the pandemic.

DGMG members volunteered to work the sale.  They carried heavy – really heavy – tables, display cases, geodes, into the Fair Grounds exhibit building on Thursday, and out of the building when the sale was over on Sunday.  They took care of the “bag grab” sales, cracking geodes, demonstrating lapidary skills, providing food for volunteers and vendors, working the front desk, supervising the fluorescent minerals location.  Of course, the organizing of such an event requires that someone needs to be in charge, as the chair and co-chair of the event were.

Vendors came from many places in the States to sell their wares.  Wares on the booth tables; minerals and gems from all over the world, jewelry that sparkled beneath the lights, awaiting the examination by the visitors.  Almost three thousand people came to the show during the three days it was open.

Volunteers worked all day Thursday to set up the tables.  To set up the club booth.  To make the show worthy of inviting visitors to view the displays, the gems, the tables filled with things to take home.  Skilled club members demonstrated their ability to create beautiful jewelry.

For the club volunteers and vendors, the opportunity was there for them to attend the Friday-night dinner.  A wonderful buffet for their enjoyment was prepared by Paula and her staff at Wrigley’s.  Each year the show and sale is held, this thank-you dinner is sponsored by the Guild.  A vendor, who with his father is one of our regulars, told me that they are involved in ever-so-many of these shows/sales, and we (the DGMG) is the only organization where they are involved that lets the vendors know just how much their participation is appreciated in such a manner.

Personally, my favorite part is the opportunity to work the front desk.  My responsibilities at the entry way are to greet each person who wants to enter, assure them that, indeed, admission is free, provide the necessary paperwork so they can vote for their favorite display case and, then, see if the number of the ticket they are given for the drawing – every hour on the hour – is read, giving them that hour’s prize.

I love to talk with children about the geodes available for them.  I tell them that, if their mom and/or dad allow them to buy one, and the man at the geode cracker does crack it open, they will be the first person in all of time to see the inside of that geode,.  The very first person!  They love being the first person to see inside.  I ask the children to stop by the desk on their way home so that we can see the treasures they have chosen.  They are always pleased to show off what they have.  And, I love it, too.

Although it snowed earlier in the week, we were spared any additional snow for the weekend.  I think that one of the successes of the weekend is that because the pandemic has kept us pretty confined for ever so long.  And, now that certain restrictions have been loosened, people want to get out and explore.  Attending a “rock club” show and sale with free admission brought out many adults and children.  We were pleased that they came and hope that they all had a wonderful time.

Be Safe and Be Well

The Cranky Crone

Thoughtful comments are appreciated.