It was probably passing the local sheriff at the turn of the bike course. He stood there leaning way forward, clapping his hands and yelling in his Marine drill sergeant voice “You’re in the zooooone. You’re in the zooooone!”
Or I guess it could have been the family sitting at the edge of their driveway with a cowbell, ringing it as we passed. Then again, it could have been the two elementary-age boys standing on their lawn with American flags, timidly saying “Good job. Good job.”
Before all of that, I would have guessed it was the opening remarks delivered over a megaphone by the County Executive, presented as if he were running for President of the United States. Yes, as you suspected, this was followed by the playing of the Star Spangled Banner on the bagpipes, by a police officer.
Regardless of why, for some reason, part way through a triathlon this weekend, I started thinking about Flea Markets.
From a fun-ness standpoint, the flea market was like having the state fair in town, every single weekend, but without the creaky rides. For a few dollars, people set up a stall for the day on a Saturday and/or Sunday and sold whatever they could possibly unwedge from their garage to a mostly dodgy set of characters trolling the aisles for bargains. There were also permanent stalls. For example, the one that fascinated me sold used military paraphernalia, helmets, metal ammo cases, cooking stoves, web belts, canteens, etc. There were crafts (those were boring), people making candles (weirdly fascinating), people who sold Ball Jars (not for making jams & jellies, but as antiques to collect), broken electronics, with advice as to how to fix them and some of the most bizarre items one could possible think of.
Of course there were snacks – cotton candy, boiled peanuts and kettle corn. Loved the snacks. Was a little frightened of the people. Fascinated by the collective emptying of attics and garages all in one place.
Has the flea market completely disappeared? It was as much a gathering place as a place to buy & sell. I wonder if flea markets were ever a city thing. Other than eBay, what has replaced it, if anything?
Halfway through the run, I lost the thread in favor of blanking out, as tends to happen.
I did somehow notice the old Model A truck on which someone had put a police light and parked at the last turn before the steep hill down to the finish.