Rotary Park - Wentzville, MO
I’m parked near the treeline near the front gate of the Festival. My little propane stove is off to my right and I’m typing sitting in a chair set up just behind my truck. The tailgate is up and my pile of pillows and sheepskins is to my left, ready to be flopped on for copious amounts of snuggling against what feels like a possible cold night.

I am reading an excellent book, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and have taken a walk around the site, which took me a day-and-a-half to actually find. The organizer was kind enough to guide me in by phone to the wooded portion of the park far to the left of the entrance, down the one road I never even saw when I first drove into the park yesterday afternoon. I was afraid the event had been cancelled, but I saw signs for it so I was very confused when I found no evidence of anything happening.

Even now, things are a little odd. I’m looking across a virtually empty field, with one RV to my left, a tent in the woods behind that, two more big rigs hooked to the electric outlets off to my right about 25 and 100 yards away respectively, and a box trailer with a cord at the 50 yard mark. I’m told the rest of the field will be used for parking the public.

It is crushingly lonely here. I know no one here and phone calls from Virginia where Alex is only serve to reinforce the fact that I’m by myself out here. A family of vendors spoke with me briefly as I walked the site, offering a place to stay or to shower or both. I may accept their hospitality unless hats are good tomorrow, in which case I may hotel it since absolutely everything I own needs to be charged up. Cast members, rehearsing on the pirate ship stage where my shows will be took little notice of me when I walked into their midst.

There’s this feeling of exposure I’m not sure I’m fond of, brought on by the open space, comparative silence and absence of companionship. I’m trying to be big enough to fill it.

I wish I had a movie to watch. Anything to break the silence and give me a bit of company. It’s big out here.

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