Category: Salem

Quarantine Staycations – Part 2

Posted in Discussions & Opinions, Family, History, Nature, Popular Culture, Quarantine, Salem, SERIES, Vacation PlanningTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Note: This is the second installment of a two part series. Part 1 can be found here.

Background:
In an earlier post from April, I offered advice on creating a “Verifiable Weekend” while working from home by either creating or breaking routines (if you missed it, I suggest taking a look at Making Time When It All Blends Together – the weekend section is at the end). With all of our travel plans cancelled and the inability to leave (or return to) the state without a 72-hour COVID-19 negative test, health attestation application, or 14-day quarantine, I have not really thought about taking vacation time. As the end of Summer looms here in New England, and as the Zoom fatigue starts bearing down, however, maybe now is the time to take some time away. I blocked time in my boss’ calendar to make sure she took some time off to de-stress and re-center. I should do the same for myself, and so should you.

Part 2: What if you can leave your house, but can’t leave the state?

Part 1 focused on suggestions for those that have to stay at home. Part 2 will broaden the scope to those that are healthy enough to travel locally, but cannot cross state lines. Since I live in Salem, I will be highlighting day trips within Massachusetts – however, I hope the ideas might inspire you to search for similar trips in your area.

Where to begin?

Planning:
The key to any successful trip, in my opinion, is very careful planning. I chose those words intentionally – I am not saying completely planning every moment, but thinking strategically about the entire trip and being carefully selective in planning key elements. Taking the time to research and make these plans ahead of your vacation will ensure that your time on vacation is spent relaxing and enjoying yourself.

One thing that is very important to schedule: Serendipity. Wait, what?!? “But Eric!”(I hear you say) “Serendipity is defined as the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. How can I schedule that?!” When planning your vacation, be sure to schedule free time to let unexpected things happen.

Consider these scenarios:
After arriving at your destination, a local gives you a suggestion of something you simply must do when you are there. If you’ve scheduled every moment, you would be forced to chose whether or not to cancel one of your plans to fit the new adventure in. Or maybe, because you’ve scheduled so many activities or tours, there is no time to enjoy the beautiful pool, the fire pit, or the hot tub where you are staying. What if something took longer than you expected on your Day 1 itinerary? If you’ve scheduled serendipity for Day 3, you can go back and finish anything you skipped, or go back to check out that quirky-looking antique book store that you quickly passed during the hidden secrets walking tour.

Brochures found at the local visitors center

Or, if you are adventurous, you can throw caution to wind and play Lobby Brochure Roulette! Each member of your party closes their eyes and grabs a random brochure, then everyone agrees on one of those chosen (depending on cost, distance, if reservations are needed, physical limitations, etc), and that is what you are doing for the day! As a very good friend of ours used to say:

Let whimsy be your blind date!

James Nance, Gentleman & Scholar

Of course, please also schedule downtime. If you go on three major hikes in three days, you are going to need some time to rest and recover.

Day Trips

A few years ago, I noticed that we worked so hard during the week that we never thought about the weekend until we were in it. Sick of wasting time, and longing to do some of the things we always talked about doing, I filled a jar with day trip ideas. The plan was that we would choose one (Friday night or early in the morning) and that would be what we would do. Here is the list I came up with all those years ago, in case you want to start your own Day Trip Jar (again, this is only going to appeal to the Massachusetts crowd, but note there are some out-of-state options included):
DAY TRIPS

Here in Massachusetts, we are in phase 3, step 1 of reopening, which allows for restaurants (indoor and outdoor), hotels, museums, gyms, outdoor venues, and movie theaters to be open. All businesses that have been allowed to open so far have been given very specific and strict restrictions and regulations to keep both their employees and the public safe.

Please research and adhere to all regulations posted by each place you visit. Most businesses require you to wear a mask when in their establishment, and to practice social distancing requirements. A good rule of thumb, when in doubt, is to wear your mask and stay 6 feet from others, even if it is not required. Be a good citizen. Protect yourself and help to protect others.

Finding the Fun: Vacations should be relaxing, yes, but they should also be fun. Whether you have a family, are a solo traveler, or it’s just the two of you, remember to play.

Play Tourist: Is there a museum, attraction, or historic spot in your own home town that you have never been to because that’s for tourists?! Well now is your chance to be a tourist. In all likelihood, the crowds that usually flock to these places are not doing so right now, so you will have the luxury of it not being crowded, and you will be supporting your local economy. Find a walking tour, either self-guided, or by a local expert. We are lucky enough to have Salem Food Tours, and I expect the nationwide trend of eating/playing/drinking locally means that you probably have one in your city, or one nearby. Maybe you can find a tour of haunted places, or hop on a Segway, a trolley, a kayak, a schooner, or a duck boat that brings you all around the city. You’ll be surprised at the things you learn, and you’ll be better prepared with options when you have future visitors that are looking for something to do.

Play Photojournalist: Here on this blog, I tend to let the photos speak for themselves (see Salem Willows, Witchcraft Victims’ Memorial in Danvers, and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, for examples), usually because I’ve taken too many photos! Try to be more like the staff of The Atlantic: take your camera (or camera phone) with you and take photos of everything you see, noting special details on a small pocket notebook (or in your phone’s Notes), so when you get home, you can create a full narrative of your day. Try making a short slideshow video with narration or subtitles and post it to YouTube, or start a blog and write-out a full story, weaving the photos throughout. If you are a savvy social media Influencer, create interest in your content by posting the photos in a series, releasing one photo at a time with accompanying captions on Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Twitter, or Tik Tok. Heck, you could even create your own book to give as gifts! In the same way that playing tourist in a familiar place can make you see things you’ve overlooked, photographing something with the intent to convey the feeling and sense of a place to someone else can be a wonderful exercise in seeing the world in a unique and meaningful way.

Play Researcher: We don’t have children, but this is definitely the kind of thing we would do with them on a regular basis if we did:

1. Pick a location.

2. Go to the Library (or the internet, if your libraries aren’t open) and do research pertinent to that location.

3. Visit the location, where the Researcher acts as guide and teacher for everyone else.

Examples: Pick a historic place and have the researcher point out the things they learned in their research. Find an autobiography of a local person and visit their home, or all of the local places mentioned in the book. Choose a specific period/style/culture and visit an art, history, or science museum, where the researcher acts as docent. Learn about local flora and fauna and take a walk in a nearby forest, beach, or tide pool, where the researcher can identify specimens. Choose one animal or a remote location (like the Serengeti) and visit a zoo where the researcher can teach about the natural habitat or attributes of the animals. Choose a city block that contains many different architectural styles or features and point out the ones they have learned about. Learn about the three major classical orders of columns (Doric, Ionic, & Corinthian) then walk around a city and point them out.

Several of the items found on the Day Trips list lend themselves to these approaches, and I believe these approaches bring a form of engagement to your activities that can make everyone appreciate and enjoy the trip in a special way.

Overnight Trips

As I mentioned earlier, hotels are now open (with restrictions), as well as campgrounds, home shares, and B&B’s in Massachusetts. Basically, the only things not open are arenas, gambling facilities, theme parks, and other high-capacity venues, along with any non-medical close contact services (massage, waxing, etc.). So if your plans involve large gatherings or a stranger getting up-close-and-personal, then you are out of luck.

A lot of the same rules and ideas apply, but keep in mind:
1. Research what is open and what the local regulations are.
2. Wear a mask (bring several – at least one per day, or plan to disinfect it).
3. Always stay socially distant from those people that are not part of your pandemic pod.
4. Find out if you may need to reserve a specific time to enter certain museums or buildings, and plan accordingly.
5. Check all of the meal options in the area. Do the restaurants offer delivery or pick-up? Consider packing a cooler with pre-made muffins, sandwiches, charcuterie, snacks and water to limit the contact with delivery persons to one meal per day.
6. Pack disinfecting wipes, disposable gloves, and hand sanitizer.

Hotels:
If you walk into a hotel and the person behind the desk is not wearing a mask (or wearing it incorrectly), turn right around and stay somewhere else. This goes for any member of the staff.

If you can, check before you book if the hotel is making safety a priority. Feel free to call them and ask what they are doing to curb the pandemic. If you do not feel comfortable with their practices, book somewhere else. The most important thing right now is that you feel safe during your vacation.

Camping:
My husband’s idea of camping is staying on the Club Level at the Wilderness Lodge, but we have family with RVs and campers. I think those that have the money (and parking space) for an RV are the luckiest during this time. While some campgrounds still remain closed, there are many that are open with restrictions (communal bathing houses and restrooms are hard to control). If your hotel room is on wheels in an RV, you have the most control over your environment. You know if every surface has been thoroughly disinfected, and you can sleep in comfort knowing that you are safe. Unfortunately, this is a luxury most of us cannot afford. If you are camping in a tent, the idea is similar, however, you may be beholden to using the campground public facilities, which can be risky.

Home Sharing:
Unlike corporate hotels, Home Share sites have no governance when it comes to requiring compliance with CDC guidelines and keeping a safe and clean accommodation. I suggest, when making your search for such an accommodation, that you only consider properties where you can contact the owner directly and can ask them how they clean the house between guests. If you do go this route, I would highly recommend bringing your own disinfecting wipes and cleaning products. This is easily done, since you are likely driving to this location – no flight restrictions!

Cash or Card?:
COVID-19 has further divided the populace on the question of cash vs. card. I have seen both extremes, with a drive-through cashier refusing to handle a card (even with gloves) to gas station attendants not accepting cash. It’s hard to know what you will face, so I suggest being ready to use either. Remember: you are the visitor, the guest, in this place – act with grace and humility. If someone balks at you handing them cash, whip out your card, do NOT argue with them or become a Karen. They are risking their health, and the health of their families to provide you with whatever service you are asking for, so please be civil and patient.

Packing Clothing:
Unfortunately, I think you will have to pack twice as much as you normally would. We don’t really know how long the coronavirus can stay active on clothing, but if an asymptomatic carrier should cough on you, or you somehow brush against a hard surface that is infected, you are not going to want to wear that clothing again until it’s been washed and disinfected. Pack large zip seal bags in your suitcase to collect dirty laundry, and wash your hands thoroughly after putting them in the bags. When you get home, wear gloves when handling the laundry, or wash thoroughly after putting them in the machine. Make sure you use a high heat setting on the dryer.

Scared yet?

It is certainly not my intention to frighten you out of taking a vacation – just the opposite. I want you to have the vacation you deserve and to do so in a healthy, relaxing, and memorable way. It’s in my nature to plan for the worst and expect the best, but I am also an advocate for adding fun and frivolity to everyday life to keep it interesting.

I hope you enjoyed this series of posts. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you make the most of your vacation time during a pandemic, and if you’ve taken any of my ideas, I’d absolutely love to hear how it went! Leave a comment below.

Stay safe.

Salem Visitor Information Booth 2019

Posted in Disney, Halloween, History, Salem, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , 4 Comments

14725712_10153796892516898_173245631148326676_n“Ask Me – I’m a Local”

That’s what my button says.  We volunteers wear them during our shifts at the Salem Visitor Information Booth in October during Haunted Happenings in Salem, MA.  I “freelance” when not in the booth by wearing my pin all month long and helping any lost-looking tourists to find their way around town.

For 2019, we had SO MANY volunteers (a blessing, to be sure) that I was only able to book two initial shifts at the booth – and the earliest was October 13th!  Once everyone had a chance to choose their initial shifts, the schedule was opened-up again and I took three additional later in the month (including Halloween!!).

If you haven’t read about 2018’s booth experiences, you can find those here, and I share some further thoughts on the booth in this post.

Sunday, October 13th: 12-2pm (actually 12-2:15pm)

IMG_2753

I was so excited to start my first shift.  Though I had been walking around town wearing my button and helping people up until this point, it’s not the same as standing at the booth and having people from around the world come to you.  It seems to be tradition now that I always begin my season in the Ambassador Witch costume (above and left).  I have had return visitors recognize me in that outfit, and the local vendors and street performers have been starting to recognize it as well.

During this shift, I met visitors from Canada, Washington, DC, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ireland, and Israel and helped 453 individuals in my 2h 15m shift (the woman replacing me was late, so I stayed to help until she showed-up).

Sunday, October 20th: 4-6pm

IMG_1470

My first evening shift (I prefer the 10-12 or 12-2), I only had 186 people on my clicker at the end of it.  I think by that time of day – especially on a Sunday – people don’t need directions or help in finding things to do.  I don’t think I’ll take another late shift, unless it’s Halloween night (I am scheduled 2-4!).  Today’ I was the Herbology Professor (right), which was my ‘new; costume for 2018.

In addition to the booth shift, a friend that runs Creative Collective asked me if I could help them out loading street vendors for the weekend markets on 19, 20, 26 and 27th.  Of course I said I would – then he told me I had to be there at 7:15am…  It was COLD and early, but all of the vendors were very sweet and happy to have a friendly face helping them load-in.  It did make for long days, though.  I have a feeling he’s going to ask again during the next markets.

Saturday, October 26th: 12-2pm

Image result for brave little tailor"

A wonderfully sunny and beautifulIMG_2803 day in Salem! 

 I am trying, every year, to have a new costume in rotation (see above).  For 2019 , I had created Mickey Mouse’s Brave Little Tailor.  What do you think?  It was a big hit and has to be one of the most photographed costumes I’ve worn.  

IMG_3094

There were a few people calling me Peter Pan and Robin Hood, which bummed me out, until one guy came walking across the cross walk and yelled to me “Seven in one blow!”  I must have grinned from (mouse) ear to (mouse) ear!

Because it was a beautiful day, it was peak time, and it was the last Saturday before Halloween, it was CROWDED.  I helped 428 people during my shift.

 

Sunday, October 27th: 12-2pm

Sunday was a miserable as Saturday was beautiful.  IMG_2812It was pouring rain, cold, and windy.  Because of the weather, most of the street vendors had cancelled, so I didn’t have to stand in the cold rain at 7:15am, but I did keep my shift at the booth.  I struggled to find an outfit that was fun, but also weatherproof.  I settled on a polyester “Beetlejuice” suit I had in the closet from a Night Circus-themed masquerade ball we attended, complete with top hat and umbrella (necessary in that weather).  I only clicked 138 people on my counter, and I came home chilled and soaked to the bone, with awful blisters from the tux shoes (bad idea).

Thursday, October 31st (HALLOWEEN!): 2-4pm – Cancelled

The weather was so awful, that they cancelled anyone scheduled to be outside.  We decided to keep the booth open for the next weekend, so they moved my shift to:

Saturday, November 2nd: 12-2pm

IMG_3095While it was technically past Halloween, the crowds still came on Saturday, perhaps because of the weather that week.  It was clear, but chilly.  I wore the Ambassador Witch hat and socks, but with long johns  and a thick wool pea coat.

The calendars and brochures that we usually give out were now out-of-date, but I pointed people to the map and descriptions, telling them what was still running and open.  All-in-all, I helped 183 people during this shift, plus a dozen more on my way home.

Total people helped (at the booth): 1388 

That’s a far cry from the 1967 of 2018, but I blame the weather and my shift selections for that.

In 2020, Halloween will fall on a Saturday, and the Haunted Happenings kick-off parade will be on Thursday October 1st.   That means we will have one full month of Haunted Happenings!  And did I mention that both October 1st and 31st are full moons?  Yeah.  It’s going to be crazy.

I can’t wait!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!!

Posted in Halloween, History, Salem, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , 4 Comments

To some parents, it’s back to school time.  To kids,* it’s the winter holidays.**

To those of us that love Halloween, it’s time for Salem Haunted Happenings!

Holiday displays before Thanksgiving, 4th of July Peeps, and Halloween in August?

We Americans tend to overdo anything we find special or unique, especially if it is inherently limited, or seasonal.  It is in our marketing/consumer nature to push it passed the saturation point, bringing it as far away from the reason we first fell in love with it as possible, either by extending the season, or making the limited unlimited.

Go ahead and put “Pumpkin Spice” in your search bar and see what comes up…

I mean… really?  Pumpkin Spice Spam sold out in 7 hours. What have we come to?  Is this irony, nostalgia, kitsch, or will certain people buy anything that remotely references something they once loved? Maybe they are doing it for the ‘gram.  Starbucks released their PSL’s on August 27th this year.   I don’t know what the weather was like where you live, but it was NOT a day I wanted to put on some flannel and sit by the fire sipping my latte.  Even my beloved Walt Disney World decorated for Halloween and started Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties on August 16th.  Full disclosure: we went to this party when we were there on August 27th.  It was ridiculously hot and humid.

Because of this trend, I start to worry when tourists and tour buses start jamming our streets in early September, and think that maybe we are pushing the festivities too early.  I understand that making the season longer helps to grab as much of that tourist revenue as possible, but thankfully we have enough going on in the summer that we don’t start October in August.  We have an estimated 1 million tourists each year for maritime and literary history, museums, cultural festivals, and a bustling food and drink scene, but the word on the street is that most small businesses can make 50-80% of their annual income during the month of October alone.

What’s in a season?

We typically have 4 weekends of heavy activity each October, starting with the Haunted Happenings Parade (typically the first Thursday) to kick-off the official festivities, and ending with the fireworks on Halloween night.  This year, the PEM opens it’s new wing to the public on September 28th.  In celebration, they are offering free admission to all and hosting parties throughout the weekend.  We also happen to have a Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival that weekend nearby on the common.  For this reason, the Salem Visitor Information Booth is opening a week early to assist with the expected crowds.

Booth
The booth is delivered to its home for the next few weeks.  It will be surrounded by flowers, decorations, and a rack for free maps and guides by the time you come visit.  Photo Credit: Salem Main Streets

The booth is staffed by volunteers every weekend, plus some weekdays during special events (the parade, Farmers’ markets, Halloween, etc).  If you look at the Haunted Happenings guide, you will see that there are special events every day in October, including new night markets on select Friday nights, and weekly specialty nights at most of the bars and restaurants, but there is a higher concentration of special things to do on the weekends, as the majority of tourists come in as day trips or overnights then.

But what are the crowds really like?

Have you ever been to a Disney Park during school vacation?  Our city’s historic and cultural district spans just over 1 mile in length, and half a mile wide when looking at the map, yet, we can reach half a million people in that area just on Halloween night.    On one of my Saturday shifts at the booth last year, I helped 474 people in 2 hours!  I am, what I like to call, “Aggressively Helpful” when working the booth.  I will walk up to people looking at GPS on their phones, or trying to read the giant map nearby (for some reason, it’s posted backwards, which isn’t obvious when you look at it).  If those people wave me away and say they know where they are going, 90% of the time they come back to me saying they got lost and needed help.  I will compliment costumes, give a smile and a warm “Welcome to my city!” or “Happy Halloween!” to every person walking by.  If it’s cold, I will tap a time step.  I have had people come back to thank me for my suggestions and ask me for more, and I’ve had people recognize me from helping them the previous year – it’s like they have a friend that lives in Salem! We only count people that we actually talk to, but can include whole groups, even if we only talk to one person from that party.  That’s probably how I got 474, although a 3.5 people-per-minute average is not hard to do with families or groups, especially if they have a specific question.  I also hand out maps to even more people that I don’t count.  The final Saturday before Halloween last year, we had a bad nor’easter come through.  There were many intrepid travelers out on the streets that day, undaunted by the weather (and they had already paid for their trip, so why not?), and I still ended up helping 108 people in my 2 hours.  The very next day, the storm had passed, and I was back up to 450.  All totaled, I personally helped 1967 people (officially – I don’t count the ones I help when just walking around town).  The entire booth staff of 75+ volunteers helped over 22,000 tourists that season.

True story: I have yet to meet an angry or mean tourist at the booth.

People may be tired, frustrated, or hungry.  They may have been sitting in traffic, or waiting in line for an hour for a haunted house that was a minute in length.  They may be overwhelmed with how much is going on, but they are here to have fun, and they are choosing to chat with me, rather than relying on their smart phones.  That’s not to say there aren’t tons of a-holes wandering around, getting drunk, and heckling performers.  My friends in the service industry have nightmare stories about awful customers, or disrespectful tourists that treat our historic cemeteries like they were fake movie sets.

Tell me again why you love it?  It sounds…awful.

I can see someone reading those numbers, or hearing complaints about waiting in line, or trying to drive through the city, could think that it’s too crowded or too frenetic, but I absolutely adore my city: its history, culture, and charm – it’s my little European Walking City right here on the North Shore of Massachusetts.  When I first moved her almost 20 years ago, I griped about the traffic and ‘those tourists’ clogging my city, taking my seat in the restaurant, and crowding the sidewalks.  My friends and I commiserated, and sighed heavily waiting for November to arrive, but as I got to know the city, and became friends with many of the business owners, I realized how much the city depends on the tourist industry – not only the shops and restaurants, but I’ve met many people that moved to Salem after having visited as a tourist.

What I didn’t explain above is that those 75+ volunteers are all Salem residents, like me, that volunteer our time.  We do it because we love our city and we want to help other people to love it, too.  We are an expanding family of dedicated, passionate, slightly kooky, people with a need to help others.  This year, there are over 100 of us!  This is wonderful, of course, but (selfishly) all these new people are taking my spots!  I was only able to book 5 shifts this year, and the first one isn’t until October 13th.  I’ll have to wait weeks!  Oh well… I guess I’ll have to go rogue and walk around town with my “Ask Me, I’m a Local” button and a bag full of brochures…

I’ll create another post with this year’s booth highlights and running tally (like last year).  Look out for at least one new outfit, too!

Make your plans now!

In 2020, there will be 5 weekends in October.  Halloween 2020 will be on a Saturday… during a Full Moon…  Book your hotels now, it’s going to be crazy!

 

*and kids at heart

**I know, the word “Christmases” appears in the chorus, but other than that, the song is a secular piece about the season of peace and good will to all.

Gallery

Photos: Salem Maritime Festival and Heritage Days 2019

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Details of the 31st Salem Maritime Festival (August 3-4, 2019) can be found here.   Salem Heritage Days is a multi-day day event (August 3-11, 2019) held annually, typically overlapping the Maritime Festival, and includes classes, concerts, demonstrations, the Ice Scream Bowl, a Fairy Trail, and many more activities celebrating the diversity of our city and its rich history.

Salem Haunted Happenings Info Booth Volunteer

Posted in History, Salem4 Comments

Here is a page I will be updating with stories from my volunteer shifts at the visitor Information booth in Salem, MA for the month of October.  Cover photo is from a Vogue piece on visiting Salem.  I do not own the rights to it, I just thought it was beautiful.

Saturday 10/6 from 12-2pm:

I was so excited for my first shift of the season, that I was dressed and ready 2 hours early. Thankfully, the weather was cool enough to wear a costume I had made last year and never got to wear (because it was unseasonably hot). Presenting the premiere of the Herbology Professor:

Why yes, there is a Bowtruckle in my pocket.  I made the hat, the shirt, the cravat, and the vest, embroidered the consignment jacket and made the matching brown velvet knickers (not seen) with an acorn bell attached that announced my every move.  I had made the orange “?” sling bag last year for holding flyers, especially on rainy days when you need extra hands.  The orange object in my right hand is a clicker to count how many visitors you help per shift.

Most asked questions: “Where are the bathrooms?” and “Where should I eat?”

Celebrities: Broadway star Billy Porter

Surprises: got attacked by a friendly zombie when the Zombie Walk shuffled by, and had visits from a few friends.

Clicker (#of people helped during my shift): 227

Sunday 10/7 from 12-2pm:

Still excited (and not learning my lesson from the day before), I was dressed 2 hours too early.  It was going to be a warm day, so I went with my black kilt, black & orange kneesocks, black converse hi-tops, my Georgia Made This Salem skull shirt and my homemade black witch hat (sorry, I don’t have any pictures).

Most asked questions:  “Closest bathroom?” and “Why is it so crowded?” and “Where can we drink?”

Most unique question:  “Where is the Salem Spoon store?”  It was an older gentleman, and he was looking for a decorative commemorative spoon that said “Salem.”  I always wondered who still bought those.  I’m happy to report that I could give him 3 locations.

Lots of friends stopped-by.  Some were hangry (and a little hungover from Darq Decade the night before).

Clicker: 336

Saturday 10/20 – 12-2pm: 

Wow! There were a LOT of people in town. Every time the train came, a mob of hundreds of people came down the street. They closed Washington Street to traffic. I’ve only ever seen that on Halloween night or on the final weekend.

I went with my “Ambassador Witch” outfit, the first booth outfit I made 2 years ago. One of the booth organizers came in with her dog, and the dog’s leash was the same tartan fabric that I made my bow tie, hat band and pocket square out of!! What are the odds?!?

Again, bathrooms and where to eat were the biggies. Thankfully the new row of porta-potties for the carnival were installed close by. No more panicked looks when I explain to them that they have to walk 4 blocks through the crowd.

Most unique/singular: “Where can we buy lottery tickets?” and “Do you have a McDonalds?”

Best surprise: a woman from my hometown that I hadn’t seen in 30 years!

After my shift, my husband met me at the Visitor’s Center (indoor public bathrooms), and as I was waiting for him, I saw two older women walking by.  One of them turned and said “I remember you!”  I had remembered her as well.  She and her friend had stopped me on the Common on my way to the booth last year to take my picture and to ask me questions.  I even remember the questions: “Where is the crooked tree.”  I was stumped.  I asked her if she had ever found, and she said no.  I’d like to think that there are several people that go home remembering our interactions, or that someone will be excited to come back to the booth to tell me what a wonderful time they had, or tell me that they have helped them in some small way.

The tourists were all happy and friendly today. I didn’t encounter any grumpy or mean people, even with long lines and crowds.

Clicker: 474

Sunday 10/21 – 12-2pm:

It was a balmy 40 degrees Fahrenheit today, so the Herbology Professor outfit won-out.  I was hoping to wear something different for each shift, but since this one never got a chance last year (it was too warm all month), I gave myself a pass.  I thought the velvet and the layers would keep me warm.

Unfortunately, the gusts of wind made it an unfriendly hat day.  Still, I (and hundreds of others in witch hats) persevered.

The cold weather and wind definitely kept some people away or indoors.

Bathrooms, where to eat, “Where is the Witch Museum?” (Which Witch Museum? We have 4…), and “What should I do?” were all very popular today.

Singular question (not unique):  “Where did you burn the witches?” (Answer: Europe.  Ours were hanged or pressed to death) and “Where can I get the best cup of chowder?”

I was excited when people had clearly done their homework, or had suggestions from friends.  As a volunteer, I cannot give single suggestions.  We try to narrow-down ideas based on what they are looking for (quick service, seafood, bar, pizza, etc) and give them several choices without showing favoritism.  I was happy to send people to Mr. Crepe and to Turtle Alley Chocolates when they asked for them by name today!

After my shift, I went and bought another shirt from Die with your Boots On and picked-up some small vials at Artemisia Botanicals.  On my way home, I was stopped by 3 different groups looking for information and one man that walked with me for several blocks asking questions.  I’m not counting them in my clicker count.

I’m sad there is only one weekend left.

Clicker: 372

Saturday 10/27 – 10-12pm Booth:

Well, a nor’easter ruined many people’s plans for this Saturday. Street vendors scrambled to set-up for the Friday Night Market, or move to indoor spaces, or reschedule for Sunday’s street fair. There were still lines outside (covered) the Salem Witch Museum and I passed 2 tours full of people with umbrellas and ponchos.

I went with a wind and rain friendly outfit – horns instead of a hat and a sweater for the chill.

There were crowds of intrepid tourists in town, so we brave few kept our shifts, but stayed inside the booth.

Mostly the questions revolved around what was open and what was inside. A lot of the tourists had booked this trip and were making the most of it. Many had come in for the Devil’s Chase 6.66 miler that had finished just before the winds and rain had started and wanted to see things before heading home.

Clicker: 108

Saturday 10/27 – 12:30-2pm Shuttle Bus Drop-off:

Cancelled due to weather.

Sunday 10/28 – 12-2pm:

Sunday was a completely different day. While the ground was still wet, and the clouds were departing, it was the kind of perfect Fall day that makes you want to visit New England.

I decided one last Ambassador Witch was due to close out my shifts for the season.

As I got to the booth, I noticed that only two of us were scheduled. My pregnant city councilor (who would obviously be inside) and myself. I would be alone outside for 2 hours on the last weekend day before Halloween. The only weekend option if you discount the horrible weather the day before. This was going to be fun!!

My partner for the shift insisted I stand in front of her window so she could get a picture:

There was a great energy in the city. People were friendly and chatty. More than any other shift, I had people come with plans prepared. They knew which Witch Museum they were looking for, or had specific locations they needed pointing to. While we always have “what should we do?” people, I appreciate those that come with an idea of what they are looking for.

I had several groups come back to ask me follow-up questions, or ‘check-in’ to tell me what they had done. Tons of friends stopped by as they passed through town, and my energy never wavered. All-in-all, I was surprised and a little was when it was over. I was having fun.

Clicker 450

Running Season Total of Visitors Helped:

1967

The other booth volunteers were always impressed with my numbers. My remark was always the same: “I’m aggressively helpful.” If someone is staring at their phone trying to use GPS to find something, or I overhear a conversation while they are waiting to cross the street, I will jump in to help. In that same vein, I could easily bring the number up to or slight over 2000 if you count those I helped just walking around downtown wearing my button.

Post-Mortems:

The Visitor Info Booth helped over 20,000 visitors (clicks) from 6 continents in the month of October. I heard we had over 400,000 people visit on Halloween night.

A Brief Hiatus (for a good reason!)

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I have a new job!!  

(The image is Katherine Hepburn from the movie Desk Set)

I started training on October 17th and this past week was the first on my own, without the woman I was replacing being there to help.  It went well, and I can see myself thriving in this fast-paced and dynamic place.  I’m sure I’ll talk about it more later.

Because my commute is now an hour (train, walk, subway, walk) each way,* starting very early in the morning, and because the days have been non-stop busy, I’ve been extremely tired when I have returned home each night.  My husband has been wonderful.  He made sure dinner was prepared and ready each night, knowing that I would be rushed to think-up and make something.  Sometimes I just don’t deserve him.  Because of this mental exhaustion, I have come home to eat, have a drink and sit down to something mindless – either TV, or folding clothes, or the like – I have not been able to handle anything else.  I would love to read and study some more, or to write here, but I have not been up to the task.

The other reason for my being away from here, and for being so tired, can be summed-up in 3 words:

OCTOBER IN SALEM

Every weekend we had something planned or someplace to go.  I had volunteered at the tourist Information Booth for 3 shifts** – a schedule I made while still unemployed.  This limited our ‘downtime’ as well.

As if the universe knew I would not have my days free anymore, all were booked from the end of September through my start date.  Here are a few highlights:

  • My husband’s birthday is the end of September, and we always go at least once to King Richard’s Faire.  We’ve made some friends with the people that work there, and they always remember us.
  • I had family visit for a few days to do some Ancestry.com research – this was unexpected, but a lot of fun and very informative!
  • I had 1 phone interview and 5 in-person interviews (2 in Salem, 3 in Cambridge)
  • My Goddaughter got married!  We drove the 4 hours in the rain to the Cape, and had a lovely (drier) drive back the next morning, with stops at the beach (a hurricane was passing by off the coast), and a little French bistro in Hyannis.

    img_3717
    “If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air, quaint little villages, here and there, you’re sure to fall in love with Old Cape Cod.”
  •  I drove down to the South Shore to the graves of my paternal grandparents, maternal grandparents, and my Dad (3 different cemeteries in 3 different towns).  I washed the stones with a soft brush and water, cleaning off the lichen and dirt, swept away the leaves, had a chat with each of them and left some gifts (flower basket, a crystal, some rosemary, and some scotch).  For my Dad, I also brought a spade’s worth of dirt from his garden at home and mixed it in.
  • After visiting the graves, I drove further down to visit my Mom in the Memory Care unit of her Assisted Living apartment.  I had brought my laptop with me, and pulled-up all of the pictures from the wedding, and the freshly cleaned gravesites.  I had also printed a few pictures from the past month and had used my label maker to label each picture with the people’s names.  I brought the label maker with me and, while we were talking, I labelled the photos she had set-up next to the TV as well.  We had a great visit, and while it tears a little bit of my heart every time I notice how much more the Alzheimer’s has taken from her, I try to keep her happy and present.  I can cry in the car on the way home. We had a lot of laughs together and I could see how happy she was in those moments.  I only wish she could remember them when she is down.
  • I created a sewing pattern from our Harry Potter robes, and made myself a new robe out of this gorgeous green tweed flannel I got on sale.
  • I also made my outfit for the Info booth.  Here it is in its debut waiting for the Haunted Happenings Parade (I also have orange striped socks – they went better with the Info Booth vest I had to wear).  It was my first attempt at designing and making a hat, so I was very proud of it.  I received many compliments on both the hat and the tartan accents (I also made them)!

So this has been a very busy, but productive time.  This was supposed to just be a short note of why I’ve been quiet, but, like everything else, it took on a life of its own.

The Election has me crazy – I will likely never write about that here.  Let’s just hope that the right decision is made on Tuesday.

Be good to each other.
Happy New Year, Witches!

 

img_3378
Samantha Stephens (Bewitched) in a quiet moment before the craziness of October in Salem begins (note the Info booth in the background).  This is not the usual angle that people take photos of her.  Sorry Sammy!  I didn’t mean to be indelicate.

*I have been thrilled to have this uninterrupted time in the morning and afternoon on the train.  In the morning, I can sip my coffee and read a book or listen to a podcast, and ease into the day.  In the afternoon, I can shut-off from work and do the same thing, calming me down to arrive home without any stress or pressure from the day.  In my old job, I was driving both directions, which allowed me to listen to audio books or sing along to music, but there was still the stress of driving, traffic, weather, etc, so if I left work in a state of agitation, it lingered and came home with me.  Now, on the train, I can disconnect work from the rest of my life.

**It was a wonderful experience that I wish I had had the energy to report on at the time. Hopefully next year, I will be more diligent in sharing those experiences here as they happen.

 

Gallery

Photos: Salem Willows

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Salem Willows is a 35 acre waterfront park in Salem, MA.  In addition to the beautiful scenery, there are 2 arcades, mini golf, kiddie rides, and lots of places to eat (including the famous Chop Suey Sandwich and Hobbs Popcorn.  The Midway and Arcade still have working 5 cent games, Zoltar, wooden ball Skee Ball, and a musical mechanical monkey show.  Here are some shots of its fantastic mid-century kitschy glory: