Day One at MARIAB in Boston...

We arrived around 8am and left a hair after 7pm. I have reasonably comfortable shoes. There are no such things as "reasonably comfortable shoes" after 8 (or, you know, 11) hours standing on a concrete floor. My feet are extremely displeased. We have another 10 or so hours tomorrow. Urgh.

Now that my whining is out of the way, Day 1 was a pleasant successes. We were busy steadily throughout the day. The day started out a bit slow, but Joyce stopped by early with the nice news that cars were lined up in the lots to get in...well, nice to know there were people waiting to get in...less so for those waiting in cars. There was not a lot of time when there were not at least one or two people in the booth and a fair amount of the time when there were 3-5. Even better, it was a genuinely engaged and happy crowd. It was really a rather fun day.

Did I mention it was 11 hours long. On a concrete floor. After 8 hours during set up. On same concrete floor.

I am pleased (and flattered) to say that I had a client stop in and tell me that my newsletter to clients about this event triggered her and her son to fly down from Midcoast Maine to spend the weekend. I can honestly say I am fond of all of my clients...but some also just make me happy to do what I do.

Of added note: My son and assistant joined me at this fair...all 11 hours. Granted, he spent much of it playing on his GameBoy or reading, but he was cheerful and charming all day...above and beyond the call (particularly toward the end). As if being well-behaved under arduous circumstances was not cause enough for celebration, at the very end of the day, he mustered the extra bit of charm to achieve his first "hand sale". As documented in the two images to the side, he first approached the husband with one of "his" miniature books, chatting him up about having a wee Shakespeare that can travel. The husband then called his wife over. As evidenced in the second image, my young assistant then read through the wee volume and closed to deal. It was his very first sale. He is *far* too pleased with himself. Have I mentioned I love my clients.

It was a good day. I hope tomorrow is as much fun. Did I mention it will be another 10ish hours on the concrete floor (the last two or so packing up).