Another First Friday has come and gone.

So Thursday evening I was going through my checklist, making sure I had everything I needed.

I packed *PLENTY* of business cards

I had lots of potted up bonsais

Everything looked in order

I packed up the car on Thursday, ready for Friday. To be sure my bonsais looked fresh, I did not pack them. I did not want to risk forgetting them either, so I moved them to the front yard, right behind the bench so they wouldn't draw attention. I don't remember if I walked on Thursday or not, but I did get to bed a bit late.

I woke up the next day very tired and sore. I really wasn't feeling all that well, but I went to work just the same. I thought about not attending First Friday, but the car was packed, and Mishy was expecting me. I was too far into it to abort at this point! I figured I still had my secret weapon: I could go home and get a quick nap.

End of the work day comes and I head on home. I hit some traffic, then a bit more so I was a little late getting home. As I was driving up, I noticed some scattered, broken bonsai. I was upset and I jumped out of my car to survey the damage and try to figure out who frickin killed my little bonsai. Without a word from me, Bernie came out:

I know your gonna be mad at me (this is what she says. Not 'sorry, but I did something', but instead she focuses on my anger), but I broke a bunch of your bonsai. IT'S YOUR FAULT! I was coming out of the car holding the babyseat (and not watching where she was stepping), and I tripped on your bonsai. I could have fallen and hurt myself!

The whole time I'm just staring at her, wide eyed, silently pumping my hands in the air. I was confused as to how this could happen. She KNEW my bonsai where there, she didn't call me when it happened. AND why couldn't she watch where she was going!!!?? All this internal dialogue was too much for me to just take quietly, which is why I was suddenly channeling Marcel Marceau in my front yard. The thought of my wife playing Godzilla while stomping through my little bonsai trees was really too much for me. However, the hand pumping did manage to force some extra oxygen to my brain and so my first words out were:

Are you okay?

Bernie of course could see I was upset, and yes, I confirmed I was upset. But what good is yelling going to do, I asked. Bernie was obviously upset that she broke my bonsai trees and she didn't need me yelling at her. It was an accident. I moved the broken bonsai to the side yard, and I watered all my little trees. Bernie wasn't buying any of it, so I assured her that yes, I was upset, but yelling wouldn't help. Besides, we can always make more pottery. That, with a small kiss, was enough for us to move on.

Bernie had made tacos (yum!) for dinner and she needed some help, so I helped by shredding lettuce, cheese, chopping onions and tomatoes. Nothing major, but that took a bit of time. I ate my tacos and retired to my room to change my clothes and maybe try to take a nap. It was too late for a nap, so I settled for 5 minutes of relaxing before leaving for First Friday. I leave about as late as I could and still be there early and start to unpack. At this point I realize that I forget the feet for my stepped display tables! Luckily, Mishy had some extra tables and she sets me up with one.

At this point in time I was down. A bunch of my bonsai were broken, so I didn't get to bring those out. My table was out of commission and I only had about half of my normal display area. Then to add insult to injury, I was EXHAUSTED! PLUS I thought it was going to be warm, so I wore flip flops, shorts and a very thin t-shirt. It dropped to about 50 so I was freezing. The wind was blowing hard, so I had to take the top off my canopy!

If I needed a few good reasons to go home, I had them in spades! I was tired and cold. My canopy top was removed, and almost half my bonsai fell victim to Bernie-zilla. I decided to suck it up and play ball. Overall I had a good time. I made a few good sales, passed out my card a few times, and I made some very nice barters for some FANTASTIC art!