Fairly recently I have run some photos of the Carey sisters.
These photos ran for two weeks in a row because they showed up for both the Independence Day celebrations Saratoga held and the centennial-and-a-quarter proceedings at the Hotel Wolf.
You might wonder why I would give two out-of-towners the press.
I have two reasons.
First, they showed up in turn-of-the-century period costumes.
Second, these ladies were a hoot.
Everyone I talked to thought pretty much the same thing.
The first time I saw them recently I had been taking photos at the Saratoga Community Picnic and was walking home.
I looked over at the Hotel Wolf and saw a small group of people laughing and chatting—but the two ladies in frilly costume caught my attention.
I could have kept going home but decided to cross the street and see what was up.
The ladies told me they were in town for the July fourth goings-on and posed for me outside the Wolf.
I started to go home again as the pair went into the hotel.
Then it hit me.
I should take a photo of these ladies in the historic restaurant or bar (I had no idea where they were heading yet).
So I changed course again and went looking for the gussied up pair.
Fortunately for me, the duo had gone into the bar.
When I suggested a photo in the rustic setting, Mary (I have no idea if the elder or younger sibling—and I’m not going to ask) came up with the idea to get up on the bar for the photo.
My only regret is that a corner of a television shows up in the photo.
Eh, what can you do?
Postal Brides
The sisters showed up again on the Friday the Hotel Wolf held their 125th anniversary events.
The pair again displayed their tongue-in-cheek humor dressed in even more frilly apparel complete with rakish hats.
The funny part of their costumes was their baggage though.
Each had “Mail Order Bride” in large letters on the sides of their brown leather satchels.
The pair explained to me that they had just arrived in town and their “prospective husbands” were nowhere to be found.
Mary then added (with a smile) that they were a little “put out” by that.
Of course, me being me, I asked if they came “postage due” —but they said they had been “paid for up front.”
So I took several photos of the Percheron team driven by Pat Sheehan and also got several of the Carey sisters playing with those in attendance.
You may have seen some of them in the July 18 Saratoga Sun.
Later I saw the pair in the main dining room of the Wolf as I enjoyed the special the hotel put on for dinner.
I gave them a wave and a smile then returned to my repast.
Later, I spied a gentleman walk past the dining room entrance on his way to the bar.
This gentleman was also dressed in period costume.
Almost immediately I went over and told Mary, “I think I just saw your wayward husband” and described the gentleman.
Mary, having just settled her check, took off almost immediately in the direction of the bar.
I can almost imagine the conversation that ensued in the bar.
A handful of minutes later Mary came back into the dining room and rejoined her sister, Cecilia.
They were all smiles from my vantage point but after another scant period of time the gentleman in question walked into the dining room smiling.
He immediately found the “forsaken” brides and the trio had what seemed a jovial conversation.
Peacock Point
The point of all this?
I like a little weirdness in my town.
It also illustrates a point I would like everyone to get.
If you take the trouble to be a little out of the ordinary and keep a sense of humor, you can fit in around here pretty quickly.
I was taking pictures at Veterans Island for the Community Picnic when a kid came and grabbed me and said, “My dad said to get you.”
What do you do with that except follow?
So I followed the youth over to the side of the island where you can observe the boat ramp on the other side of the river.
Immediately my camera went to my face as I observed a very large raft shaped like a peacock being walked out into the current by a group of people.
After taking a few snapshots, I asked the group if they were going down river. They said “yes” —and I took off for the Bridge Avenue bridge where I knew I could get a good photo.
I got my photos—and you may have chuckled (or not) at the “Patches the Peacock” photos on page 3 of the July 11 Saratoga Sun.
As they floated under my position on the bridge, I even managed to get most of their names yelled up at me. Then a lady who knew the group actually gave me the ones I did not get.
So thanks to the kid, his father, and the lady with the names. I wish I could thank you by name—but absent-minded is my calling card.
Stored Soapbox
I have been called out of my office and told, “Hey, you’ve got to check out this pair from England down at the Rustic Bar.”
Of course I obliged—had a marvelous conversation and got a few pictures there too.
I have been told by peers at press association conventions that it is very self-evident that I am involved in the town.
Of course I am.
Why wouldn’t I be?
I love this place and one of my goals is to bring a smile to your face whenever I can.
I also try to provide you nice photos and the unvarnished and impartial truth.
Every once in a while I get out my soapbox, dust it off, mount it and fret publicly in my column about this or that situation.
But I don’t want to get bogged down in my own serioucity (is that how you spell serioucity?).
Besides, who wants to be serious all the time?
So if you are building a hay bale snowman, dressing in an odd fashion or just know something you find quirky—let me know.
I might even write about it.
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