The Adventures of Fric and Frac: Adventure 288: Floyd, VA/Post D

Come to the Friday night Jamboree!

Scott and Kate's theme for their wedding (And fervent hope) was to build community. Thanks to them, Judy and I have been slingshotted across the country to a place where community is strong. Tonight, we enjoyed The Floyd Country Store jamboree, which happens every Friday night, fifty-two times a year. People from all over come to Floyd to enjoy the experience. Halfway through the night, they give the band a rest, hold a raffle, and ask the audience who traveled farthest to visit Floyd. Tonight's winner was a young lady from Seoul, Korea. She beat out another young lady from Slovenia, and an older man from London. We Spokanites weren't even in the running. Nevertheless, we joined the community for the night. We two-stepped and we flat stepped. We danced until we were as sweaty as country hogs. We weren't alone. The locals shirt's were spotted with sweat. Hair was plastered to foreheads, and the fans hanging from the corners of the ceiling were spinning at full speed. Everyone was having a ball, dancing together in an atmosphere that was as warm as a newlywed's smile. There were dances for everyone. The flat stepping was for the energetic; the two stepping was for the graceful and the connected (They say Virginia is for Lovers). There was a square dance number that so filled the floor, they had to form two circles. It strikes me that these mountain folk value community above all, especially the community of family. The night's headliners were called the Slate Mountain Ramblers. The band consisted of Mom, Dad, Daughter, and Son-in-Law. We've seen this time and time again since we've been here. It's almost as if everyone plays music, and they play together. They also play from memory. They play song after song, each lasting about two and a half minutes. They play straight for two hours. By my math that amounts to about fifty-five songs, and and not a piece of sheet music in sight. Impressive! It's not just the playing; it's also the communication; it's a space where young and old can value each other, and most of all, listen to each other. I think Scott and Kate are on to something. Perhaps the world would be a better place if we began listening, communicating, and finding a way to value each other. For Judy and me, we're calling our time here our "twenty-seventh' honeymoon, because, after all, we are like lovers even when we aren't in Virginia. We danced with abandon tonight, joining in, protected by the warmth of acceptance. If anyone did notice us (Which I doubt), they simply said, "Come on in, everyone's welcome. It's a nice enough thought to have me gratefully say, "Life is good, especially today.

This gentleman led the free dance lesson before the jamboree started. He was excellent.

Miss Judy learning the art of flat stepping.

On Friday nights in Floyd, music can be heard inside and out. This trio was playing right next to the park where the chili cook off was taking place. This happened before the music started at The Floyd Country Store.