October 20

Ever since I knew that there was to be an alpaca festival called Pacific Northwest Fiber Odyssey only 3o miles away from where I live, I turned into a llama maniac. I checked out a book from the library about alpacas and llamas so I could act like I was in regular alpaca circles, and maybe even make some alpaca friends. I envisioned an outdoor festival with alpaca fur blanketing the ground, people sitting at spinning wheels in what was advertised as a "spin-off," maybe even some food stands selling polish dogs, some amateur folk music, and alpacas grazing the area, everywhere I looked.

Well today was Alpaca Fest day. Before I left home, I put on my sweateriest sweater and headed to Coeur d' Alene for a free oil change and on the way home, I stopped in Post Falls for the biggest let-down of the month. I parked in a parking lot that was about 1/5 full, walked in to the convention center and saw about 15 booths set up with yarn (that part was kind of cool), little teddy bears made of alpaca fur (also cool), sweaters and spinning wheels, but WHERE THE HECK WERE THE ALPACAS? I felt like such a fool. Was I missing something here?

I made the most out of my presence by touching several alpaca-infused items and noted both its wooliness and softness. After 5 minutes, I was bored and walked back to the parking lot with my head looking down like Charlie Brown. As I got to my car I noticed a trailer was parked next to me. Here is what I saw: