Back to the Future in BZB

Our friends in the San Francisco Bay area and South Florida are probably thinking that Dick and Cathy have finally lost it... living in a tiny, funky little town on the Mexican border on a barely paved street... what could anyone possibly do there? This weekend was a rousing example of how to make your own fun - and it was a rip-snorter! (God - we've only been here a month and I sound like Gabby Hayes... oy.)

On Saturday morning, we walked over to the Farmer's Market - past the charming houses on the Vista, which is our main drag in this area of Bisbee, called Warren. Houses were built for the executives of the Phelps Dodge copper mine that once thrived here, and all originated from the first 20 years of the 20th century - they're all bungalows of varying sizes and styles. It was Fiber Weekend at the Farmer's Market - and no, this isn't about eating your bran - it was about how to make things from yarn, starting with shearing an animal and moving on from there. We saw angora rabbits, alpacas, and even a live sheep shearing exhibition - fun for us, less so for the sheep - and then we watched local ladies spin the yarn and knit it into totally cool stuff. Other highlights of the market are the tamale guy, who summers in Palo Alto and makes tamales that would be the pride of any Mexican abuela... and the produce farmers who come here on Saturdays from Patagonia, a short drive away, and bring corn, tomatos, lettuces and herbs that are definitely ready for prime time, though it's only May.

But the BIG moment of the weekend came on Saturday night at "Bisbee Idol" - a fundraiser for the local homeless shelter that's modeled after "American Idol". The locals came out in droves to perform and to vote for their faves. The winner of the best Male Performer was a tubby, grey-haired guy who called himself "Fish Rap" - performing an original rap number that left the audience rolling in the aisles. Best Female performer was not a surprise, as she's a standout from local musicals and dramas who sang "Don't Rain on My Parade" - if you closed your eyes, you'd swear it was Barbra herself on the stage. And our favorite was the female cross-dresser who sang "New York New York" dressed as Frank Sinatra, but voting was unfortunately hindered by the fact that no one knew whether to vote for her/him as Best Female or Male... bummer. My heart went out to Bobo, an adorable pixie-like 60-something woman who sang "Memories" from the musical Cats... the emcee said (sotto voce), "please vote for Bobo because her cat just died..." and people hooted from the audience at 90-year-old judge Millicent, who was a bit fermischt from time to time... people were yelling "Turn your mike up, Millie, we can't hear a thing you're saying!"

So real, so small town, so funny - it makes me believe in humanity again, at least for a night...