Betta and Thom

 

A Very Vinitok Weekend

There we were, racing through the Arkansas River Valley, Trudy and Dennis in their TT, Betta and Thom in their Acura. It was September, 2018, and we were spending the weekend in Crested Butte for the annual Vinitok Festival. Trudy was driving and we imagined Dennis singing “Ventura Highway” to her as she dominated the tight curves of Monarch Pass like a seasoned Formula 1 driver.

𝄞  “…Ventura Highway in the sunshine

Where the days are longer

The nights are stronger than moonshine…”

We spent the day exploring Crested Butte and then came the festival that night. A wonderful dinner, interrupted by pagan dragon warriors and Earth mother fairies singing songs of redemption as they marched through the restaurant. We wrote our wishes and regrets on little pieces of paper that we tucked into allotted boxes for the bonfire. Dennis and Thom wore curved horns while Trudy and Betta wore garland in their hair. Out into the street to join the torch-lit procession, the entire town and guests marched the length of the city, carrying the effigy of The Grump – all those bad things, bad thoughts, bad emotions, bad politics – heading toward destruction and renewal.

The Grump was monstrous, but suspiciously familiar in his oversized blue suit, unnaturally orange face and criminally tiny hands. His unrealistically long red tie draped down the length of the parade float. We marched alongside him as we chanted “Burn the Grump! Burn the Grump!” all the way to the giant stack of logs that would soon be lit.

The Grump was set upon the pyre along with the boxes filled with our private thoughts, and torches were added to start the conflagration. The fire burned hot, and Dennis and Trudy’s faces glowed joyfully in the night as we chanted “Burn the Grump!” letting our past transgressions and wishes turn to smoke and disappear into the starry night. We made our way back to the condo, exhilarated and tired.

The next morning, we luxuriated in our pajamas in the condo and Dennis and Trudy taught us to play the “Kings in the Corner” card game. Then we went to the farmers market and enjoyed the Fall colors and golden aspens before we packed our things and left. Again, we could imagine Dennis serenading Trudy on the drive back to Colorado Springs. 

𝄞  “…'Cause the free wind is blowin' through your hair

And the days surround your daylight there

Seasons crying no despair

Alligator lizards in the air, in the air”

Betta and Thom