Though I vend at Hempfest every year, this year I believe I have suffered the most unfortunate fair experience ever! Read my tale of woe and try to avoid the same fate if you also sell at fairs!
Friday started out well. It was the load-in day and there were vendors only. On my way to the fair, a couple of guys in a pickup truck spotted my sign in the back of my car as we waited in choked up traffic. One of them yelled to me, "Hey! You a fortune teller?" I affirmed. "What's up with this?" he asked, gesturing at the knot of traffic.The other man yelled, "Hey, where can we find some money?"
"If I knew that," I replied," I wouldn't be sitting in this piece of shit car in this traffic, would I?" They both laughed uproariously and traffic moved. When I arrived at the park I learned that last year's main organizer for vendor services had died, and there was chaos in his stead. A levy broke and flooded the park causing booths to have to be moved. As I began setting up my canopy, I was told that the six by six stalls weren't allowed a canopy. This is insane in Seattle, where there is often rain, and Saturday had a heat advisory. I argued up the ranks to someone who offered to move me to a larger booth space, but it was too close to a stage which would be too noisy. I elected to stay at my original booth but not use my fancy canopy.
On Saturday, I hauled in my ghetto table and umbrella to use instead of my fancy canopy. I had a wonderful day of selling even though I wasn't feeling too well. The night before I had been sweating and on Saturday all day I had a sore throat. Nevertheless I met many pleasant people and did brisk and prosperous business all day! The wind was extremely strong and I fought against it blowing away my table all day. A large fire started on the hill, but it was extinguished. I headed out afterwards to worship in a circle under the moon outdoors. I was exhausted and my throat felt worse, but I chalked it up to the long work day. That night, a thunderstorm broke my umbrella.
On Sunday, I woke up feeling sick and with a warning not to go, but knew I had to return to Hempfest at the very least because all my stuff was there. I worked the first couple of hours before suddenly becoming very dizzy, disoriented and experiencing mental symptoms as well. I collapsed at my table. Upon coming to, a number of kind fairgoers were attempting to help me. I packed up my expensive PartyLite products and let the gentleman who was vending blown glass across from me watch my stuff. I placed my most valuable things including all the cash I had earned from the fair, the large crystal ball that my mother gave me, a smaller crystal ball my Elder gave me, and my blessed tarot cards in my purse and began to stagger to my car to lie down while calling my husband. I even tried to solicit the help of a police man, telling him that I have schizophrenia since I was speaking in a disorganized manner. He brushed it off, thinking I was just another stoner at the fair. The trip to my car was the longest walk of my life. I believe that I lost consciousness several times along the way. I finally spilled myself into the back seat of my car and awoke only to mumble incomprehensible directions to my husband. It was either before, during or after that time that my purse was stolen.
My husband arrived to rescue me, and later, with the help of a Family member who just happened to be stopping by looking for me, they packed up all of my belongings. We called the credit agencies and found that my credit cards were already being used by the thieves. First they withdrew a dollar from each one to see if they worked. Then they began running up the big bills. I went to the hospital emergency room. This might be TMI (too much information), but I was placed on an intravenous drip and diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and hand and foot and mouth disease.
I filed a police report and called the credit reporting agencies. My husband changed all the locks. Luckily I have a back-up crystal ball that my Elder gave me just a couple weeks ago. With the generosity of several Famly members and A Gathering Grove, I had a replacement for my deck of tarot cards over-nighted to me. I was told, "First, do whatever is needed to get physically well... And then we'll see to the thieves. May they gain naught but grief from their actions against you." Indeed, I might imagine that such a thief will never know peace nor bliss nor joy nor rest and ever be in cruel suffering by actions against me. Those of you who read tarot also know that well-used decks and crystals tend to take on a life of their own, and I happen to know that my divination tools are not going to like this one little bit. I do welcome positive prayers and energies for my swift recovery from my illnesses from any of you who feel compelled to help!