See you later, alligator!

 

 So we had a party at Marjorie Park. In true West End Christian Community fashion, it was going to be a unique event. Somewhere along the way, we got it into our heads that it would be a great idea to barbeque a shark. For most Churches, this would be a jolly joke that would quickly be forgotten. But not for us. As soon as he heard the idea, Guy got on his magic phone and ended up finding a way to have shark steaks from out west donated to the Church. They wondered if we wanted some alligator too. Of course we did.

 Now it was Shark in the Park. We arranged to have a pirate (Brad) entertain the kids, George was committed to finding a way to cook these sea creatures, and Ginny was willing and able to allow the Church to use her giant inflatable dragon kids’ play structure (it could pass nicely for a ‘gator!)

 We should have taken the hint when the shark was stopped at the border. Sensitivities in Canada regarding sharks as a species made it impossible to get the thing across the lines, so we just settled for more alligator to be sent.

 Then we found out we couldn’t get any electricity at the park. We could if the party ended at 5:00 pm, but it started at 5:30. So no inflatable dragon.

 Then the pirate got sick. And the alligator almost made it, but the Manitoba officials wondered what we wanted to do with 40 pounds of alligator. It seems we ran afoul of some imported food technicalities.

 So we had the Park Party anyway. Burgers and hot dogs hit the grill, and chicken fingers hit the big deep fryer. We thought of telling people that the alligator just tasted a lot like chicken, but … no. George and his crew cooked away and served the people, John, Allyson and I beat the tribal drums, Ginny, Kim and Carolyn brought all the stuff they could for the kids’ games, and lo and behold! Over 100 people came out – many from the neighbourhood – and we ate, talked, got our faces painted, and had a good time in each others’ company. George’s face looked particularly scary. For me, he inspired an idea for another Batman villain – The Mime! (“Why so talkative?”)

 There’s a lesson in here somewhere. It seems that the essential ingredient in an “event” isn’t a shark, an alligator, or a pirate. It’s the PEOPLE. If you’ve got them, you can go a long way. For me, the people made the Park Party a huge success – the Church and the community gathering and spending time with one another. The other stuff would have been cool, but we actually had everything we needed – each other!

May the Lord bless you,

Rob (www.weccwinnipeg.ca)