Funtime in Rural A-Town

A couple of weeks ago I had a fun and interesting day. I was in Kennesaw, Georgia for a small town festival, which I was face painting at. I guess I did not realize that there were such hillbilly towns so close to Atlanta still. When the first little girl asked me to paint a cow on her cheek it was a big clue. So was the big confederate flag flying at the towns main restaurant. I think also that the freight train was their idea of a parade because it went by, right through the middle of the festival, at least 8 times in the 5 hours that I was there. I could not decide if that was louder or if the two radio station booths battleing it out for attention were. I think the Fish Christian radio station won that contest though because we could not even hear what was happening on the very nearby stage by the end of the day.

There was a stage with lots of interesting entertainment too, including cloggers dancing to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”, which I had not seen at a festival for at least ten years. (See video below.) Then it was quite bizarre when the scene changed drastically and a group of preteens appeared on stage in pin striped mini skirts and black hats and vests doing lots of Britney Spears moves and appearing way too racey for a Kennesaw family festival. I just had to laugh at the irony. I’m sure the Fish station was appalled. I was glad to see the diversity.

Later that night I found myself at a pizza joint in Tucker, Georgia watching perhaps the most amazing electric guitar player I had ever seen, an Australian named Geoff Atchison. (See video below.) It was obvious that most of his fans were guitar aficionados because they all sat staring and studying his every move. No one danced, they just sat at tables in awe of the master at work. He played so fast and with such dexterity that his hands looked disfigured. Later a kid no more than 15 years old came up on stage and wowed us with a guitar ability as amazing as Jeff’s. His guitar face was pro as well.
Anyway, I just wanted to share that. I love when a day like this comes along to remind me of what a interesting life this is.