On Parks Day, Saturday, July 19, Waterton was the busiest I’ve ever seen it. Hotels were full, the campground was bursting, and the aroma of waffle cones settled over the town as Ye Olde Lick & Nibble struggled to keep up with demand (honest, that’s the name of the ice cream shop). I set up my table, books and slide show inside the Waterton Natural Heritage Centre on Waterton Avenue, as planned.
I hate wind. A breeze that 
keeps mosquitoes away is acceptable, but in Waterton, gale-force wind is common. So I was happy to sit inside, un-buffeted, as the wind blew windsurfers over whitecaps and threatened to carry untethered Chihuahuas all the way to Lethbridge.
Until I peeked out the window. There were crowds of people in the park next door. More importantly, there were dozens of kids lined up for face painting and free lemonade. Kids eager to have their faces painted are likely the right age for my books, but sadly, none of them were venturing indoors. No one knew I was there.
In a flash, Anne and her guys from the WNHC had me set up right beside the lemonade stand. Minutes later, curious kids were asking questions. Did I make this book? Did I know lots about ospreys? What are ospreys? And – most frequently – can I try your puppet?
I need to get more puppets. Nothing draws a curious kid better than a puppet – well, besides candy or a kitten, perhaps. I had to keep my funky tablecloth weighted down and watch that my bookmarks didn’t take flight, but meeting all those kids was worth my minor skirmish with the wind. It was a fabulous, windy day!
