It can't be over
Most of the crowd drifted away after that, going home or back to the remainder of their evening at the fair. The six of us, Judi, Edith, Paul, Nate, Luanne and I, just kept talking! We didn't really intend to stay to see the crew bus leave too, but when they got ready to drive off, we were still there! The fair was still open, and we were in a public area, so no one cared. When the bus got ready to move, the same security guy was standing near us, talking into his radio. He told whoever was on the other end, "There's about six hundred people left out here... but I'm going to try and get rid of 594 of them, so I'd estimate by the time you get out here, there'll be six people left." He was very cute! After he made sure we were behind the bike rack so we wouldn't get run over, he waved the bus back, and as it was going by, we waved goodbye to Keith and Casey! Again, we were there, we might as well!
By then it was probably ten thirty or so, and we were getting cold again, so we started to head for the gates. We made it about fifty feet to a concession stand that sold coffee, and stopped again, still talking. After a half hour or so, things began closing down and people started coming out with hoses to wash down the pavement, so we took that as a sign we should get moving again!
Another hundred feet or so, there was a booth open where they were selling, but more importantly, demonstrating, wood burning stoves. The man running the booth was chatting with other people, so we stood around there for a while longer, telling each other our Styx stories around the fireplaces! After a while he began turning them off, and the charm of the location was suddenly lessened. We took that as another sign.
This time we actually made it outside the gate into the parking lot before we stalled again. We formed a little circle, stuffed our freezing hands in our pockets, and just kept talking. After a while, someone said, "Boy, we just don't want this night to be over, do we?" That was so true! So we just rambled on. I'm not sure all of the topics were suitable for mixed company, but the guys took it pretty well! We roamed off the topic of Styx and back again, from redneck jokes to pianos of all definitions, and I will never hear the name of Chicopee, Massachusetts again without laughing!
Finally, at some point past midnight, the foulest-smelling garbage truck in the entire universe pulled up and stopped right next to us. We saw that as our final cue, and finally headed to our cars. At least, I did - and I've heard from just about everyone else since then, so I know they're not still standing there, frozen solid!
It was a really long day but so much fun and well worth everything. So when's the next show?