Hello Hampton!!!

This past Saturday I visited Hampton for their annual Watermelon Festival. We went early on Saturday so that we could attend the annual parade. I'm still not sure about getting around Hampton. This was my fourth trip to the area, but I've not learned any of the short cuts. Driving into Varneville, we were stopped by a sheriff's deputy. He was about one block from the main road between Varneville and Hampton, where we could see parade floats and cars beginning to enter the parade. When I told him I was trying to get over to Hampton, he point me down a side road and told be to take it until it dead-ends and then hang a left. So, Ginny and I started making our way down the side road with Adrian and Michael following us in their car. It was not too long before we were at the end of the road and turning left. As we did, I noticed there was another Sheriff's deputy before us. I stopped this time, not pulling all the way up to the intersection. I began to motion for him to come over to the car, but this gentleman was not having it. He scowled at me and motioned for me to come to him. We repeated the exchange one more time before I eased on up to him. I told him I was trying to get to the Methodist church. With eye brows furrowed, he said, "Well, ya done missed your turn now. Ya should have turned right there," motioning to the street where I had just been stopped. I let it go, after all, I don't want any police mad at me. Everyone knows I need to keep them as close to me as I can. He continued to think about how I could get to Hampton UMC from where we were. I could tell the hamster was running the wheel in his head. Poor man! Eventually he said, "Awe, shucks! Just turn here, but take it slow will ya." So, I listened to him and eased into the intersection and turned right.

I've always wondered what it was like to have a grand interest. I've see clips of musicians and movie stars walking through crowds of people and I think how awesome that must be. I think it must be so cool. Well, I found out that it's not. It's kind of awkward, actually.

So, we ease onto the road, when Ginny and I look up and see that the road is lined with people on both sides. Ginny looked at me and said, "Oh my goodness, Ross! We are in the parade." And, it was true. We had entered the parade route. Hampton Watermelon Festival Parade 2010 was unofficially being led by the new Methodist pastor. As I eased my truck down the road people were starring from both sides of the road with very confused looks, as if they were trying to discover the particular driving down the parade route. About 6 blocks later we ran into the state police. They were not happy. In fact, they very directly and adamantly ran us off the street. And, I was relieved.

Well, I said it was going to be interesting Hampton! I'm coming and (apparently) in a big way!