Aromas Day is a constant for residents of the town
It’s a funny thing about living in Aromas. You can live just
down the road from people you know, yet never see them. Life is
busy. Work is crazy. Kids are in sports. Everyone’s schedules are
different.
Aromas Day is a constant for residents of the town
It’s a funny thing about living in Aromas. You can live just down the road from people you know, yet never see them. Life is busy. Work is crazy. Kids are in sports. Everyone’s schedules are different.
So that’s one of the big reasons why I go to Aromas Day. It’s a chance to visit with all those friends who have gotten lost among the flotsam and jetsam of ordinary living.
I love Aromas Day. It’s one of those things you can depend on to always be absolutely consistent. It’s always held the last Sunday in August. It’s always a warmish day. There’s always a parade, a horse-drawn wagon, food booths and arts and crafts.
And yard sales. Don’t forget the yard sales.
You can always also depend on seeing your friends and neighbors there, whether you want to or not.
Aromas Day 2009 commenced last Sunday as it always does, with a pancake breakfast at the Grange hall and at least a hundred yard sales in and around town. On this day, the population of Aromas swells to well over 5,000, perhaps even as much as 6,000, as outsiders make their way to our little burg.
It’s a community party that is unabashedly old-fashioned. We are not celebrating a fruit or vegetable, a type of vehicle, a particular beverage or a style of food. We’re simply glorying in the fact that Aromas exists – “A nice place to live,” as our little town slogan goes.
Aromas Day has a little something for everyone. The car guys bring their hot rods and classics, either just to show off or to drive in the parade. The local organizations sell items at booths, either food or other things, to raise money. There is live music and there are a wide variety of things for sale, from old farm equipment to jewelry.
The worst part: trying to find parking. But I did, and in a matter of minutes, I saw numerous old friends and acquaintances, some of which I hadn’t seen since their kids and my kids were going to Aromas Elementary School.
Call me easily amused, but I found plenty to hold my attention downtown. The local 4-H club was selling plants and scrunchies, and had a wonderful hive with glass sides, so you could see the bees hard at work within.
I admired the handicrafts for sale, and then I went to visit with some friends who were having a yard sale. Being at the tail end of the sale, they were bored and hot, so I kept them company for a bit.
Returning to downtown, I indulged in a cup of lemonade and an ear of roasted corn. Food was all around me: strawberry shortcake, hot dogs, flautas, tri-tip barbecue, burritos and root beer floats, just to name a few.
Along the way, I saw even more people I knew. My sons’ kindergarten teacher, who is still in the classroom after all these years. The local scoutmaster. The people from Aromas Water District. Wonderful artists from Aromas Hills Artisans who I’ve come to know. Volunteers at Aromas Library.
In short, it’s sort of a reunion, block party and county fair wrapped up into one little package. Totally familiar, yet unique at the same time. A little bit of yesteryear that has somehow survived the modern age.
And the best part of it is I know it will be back again next year. Sure as God made little green apples, the swallows returning to Capistrano, and the snails eating my Meyer lemon tree.
It’s nice to have something you can depend on.
