I visited the resale area not to shop but to inspect. For the first time ever, I had tried out Mid-Winter’s nifty computerized resale form, and offered four blouses and two skirts for consignment. Now I wanted to see if I could find my garments on the racks…or if they had sold. The too-small blue blouse was nowhere to be seen. Sold? I hope so.

The beautiful maroon blouse with the double ruffled sleeves was absent from the rack holding red blouses. Sold? Probably. It was lovely. I’ve had second thoughts on selling that one, but I already had a maroon blouse when my Mom gave me this one. Maybe I should have sold my original maroon blouse. It was plainer. But Mom had made it. That blouse has sentimental value even if it lacks the resale blouse’s style. No, stop thinking like that! After all, I’ll get $5– minus the consignment charge– for the maroon blouse. That thought makes me feel even worse. 

The white blouse with the capped sleeves was still hanging with the other white blouses. I found the too-big-for-me polka-dotted mauve blouse hanging between other colors. It apparently defied categorizing. The matching mauve skirt (too small for me) was gone. I found the white skirt with lace insets and straightened it on the hanger.

I ran into a friend buying an armload of clothes. “This blouse looks just like yours,” she said, holding up a red lacy blouse like the one my mom gave me for Christmas when I first started square dancing. The blouse looked new (no, it wasn’t mine). “And these sandals. I just ordered a pair like them for $120. These are $18,” she said. I asked if she planned to return the new ones.

Resale is a great way to purge a too-tightly packed closet. And it’s a great way to expand one’s wardrobe affordably. A big thanks to the Mid-Winter staff, which works long hours to provide the resale room.

Unlike drive-through nativity scenes, this 45-minute pilgrimage to Jesus’ manger winds along outdoor torch-lit pathways filled with surly Roman soldiers, musical surprises and high-quality pageantry. The genius of the event is that it is interactive. Participants not only view the Christmas story, as told in the Bible, but also take part in the unfolding of the events. And you learn a bit about the history of the era–think “The Nativity Story” movie from a few years ago. 

I don’t want to give away the surprises–throughout the evening the emcee urged returning guests to avoid telling newcomers about the upcoming scenes. But if you go, be prepared for a memorable experience, not a cheesy bathrobe Sunday school play or Hollywood glitz. Participants begin building the elaborate sets in August. Actors memorize extensive dialogue. Their hard work is evident. 

Three more showings remain: Dec. 9, 10, 11. Saturday is usually packed, so try the Friday or Sunday showings. Gates open on Friday at 5:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday gates open at 4:30 p.m. Arrive early, stand in line for a free ticket (no reserved seating is available), and then relax in the auditorium where local musicians entertain with Christmas music. Tonight’s performers included an ensemble (singer, pianist, bass player and glockenspiel player), a pianist, and a vocalist. (Hint: Some people go home or out to eat rather than waiting in the auditorium.) Audience carol-singing and announcements fall between performers…about every half hour.

When your group’s number is projected on the big screen, you gather at the side of the auditorium, don your hats and gloves, and follow a guide to the first stop. Six more follow. Free refreshments come at the end. Dress warmly. I was happy to have thick socks and boots, gloves and a hooded coat.

Address: 19800 Oatfield Rd., Gladstone, Oregon. Take the Gladstone/DMV exit off Interstate 205. Turn right onto 82nd Ave; turn right onto Oatfield Road. (The Gladstone Park Conference Center is on the west side of the freeway. The entrance is well-marked.)

The Seventh-day Adventists sponsor the event. I’m not an Adventist, but hats off to the Adventist Church for reminding us of what Christmas is all about…and for doing it with style.

And like a typical party, the event also included guests…about six squares of dancers showed up. Twenty-one guests were from the Oaky Doaks (a big thank you to this club!). 

Former members came from as far away as Sisters, Ore., to dance and mingle. Roger Putzler called, and Ken Pratt cued.

Willamette Valley clubs dance on Center Stage at the 2011 Oregon State Fair.

A square dance display, complete with a mannequin wearing a petticoat, goes up at U.S. Bank in Gresham each August.

The Checkerboard Squares partner with Carrie B’s dance shop to introduce square dancing to bank customers.

Other clubs have found creative ways to advertise, too. The Country Cutups did a square dance demonstration at the Philip Foster Farm’s Barn Dance and Pioneer Dinner this summer.

Clubs from across the Willamette Valley danced on Center Stage two weekends during the 2011 Oregon State Fair. On Labor Day, dancers dressed in patriotic colors: red, white and blue. The Wild Cards called. 

Red, white and blue are the colors of choice at the Labor Day fair demo.

This introduction to square dancing–complete with volunteers distributing brochures and lesson schedules–is a real boon to square dancing. But just as heartening is the fact that the demo is growing in popularity among square dancers. Three or more squares were dancing on Labor Day, with plenty of dancers sitting out, waiting their turn. The square dance community deserves praise for coming together and promoting its sport. 

Yes, reasons abound why we should plant trees: Trees beautify the city. Trees increase property values. Trees provide shade in summer, cooling our homes. Trees purify the air. Trees provide exercise in the fall when the leaves fall in soggy piles. We know all those things.

The ad’s message was unsurprising. But what caught my attention was the presentation. That ad sounded like…did I hear it right? That ad sounded like an old-timey singing call. A square dancing call. Am I hearing things?

Yes, I’m hearing things. I’m hearing that ad agencies have decided that a jingle sounding like a square dance singing call will grab listeners’ attention. That a jingle sounding like a square dance singing call is unusual enough to modern ears to stand out from the pop sounds we’re accustomed to. That a jingle sounding like a square dance singing call will sell. 

Should the square dance community be flattered that ad agencies finally have discovered us? That they are validating our activity? After all, we are a small group compared to Portland’s population. Or should we feel angst that we are such an anomaly in modern culture that our “sound” is considered novel enough for an ad?

Maybe the ad will catch on. Maybe every time Portlanders plant a tree–or even see a tree–they will remember the music in that ad and think about square dancing. Maybe so many Portlanders will want to start square dancing that we’ll have to hold our dances in the Expo Center. Now that would be an advertising success. 

With so many photos on the CD, you’ll likely find yourself at the festival or find a picture of a friend. 

You can see some of their photos on the 2011 summer festival page on this Web site. Just go to the home page and click on the link.

You can download the order form and order by mail by clicking on the link that follows this sentence: PDT CD order form 1.

To order, call Phil Thiessen at 503-510-2415. Or you can e-mail him at pdtphotography@yahoo.com. Phil and Shelly will promptly fill your order. 

Happy memories of a wonderful weekend!

Click on this form to see an enlarged view of the prices and sizes for portraits at the 2011 summer festival.

The husband-wife duo, which makes up the company, PDT Photography, studied photography together in college. Phil will photograph individuals, couples, groups and clubs during festival hours. Shelly will photograph the festival itself, providing the pictures for the collages and CDs.

Mary Theirl and Jim Schira round dance at the Checkerboard Squares' June 2011 dance.

PAC president Tony Haskins answered questions about summer festival and square dancing for an article that should appear in the Wednesday, July 6, issue of The Gresham Outlook. So be sure to pick up a copy of The Outlook to read about Oregon’s second biggest square dance event of the year.

Three halls for mainstream, plus and round dancing. A food court–including a Coffee’s On stand. More than 16 vendors. A professional photographer to record your memories. A USO show with great music from the ’40s. This promises to be a fantastic summer festival.

Rose Promenade–Summer Festival 2011–will be an event to remember. See you there!