Let my inspiration flow, in token rhyme suggesting rhythm
That will not forsake me till my tale is told and done

The event wrapped up about 24 hours ago, and now that I've uploaded the photos, I can tell you the story. I sit here with a glass of Lancaster Milk Stout that Mososo Kruppe brought back from PA for me (thanks! It's deeeelicious!).

Though we pulled enough bottles off the wall last night, I don't think anyone was worse for wear the next morning. That's because we stuck to the good stuff, man! After I drove right past the Taco Mac (you can NOT see the sign heading as you're heading north on Mountain Industrial... until it's too late!), I arrived at the same time as Mososo Kruppe and Gamboling J. They looked a little... wet. Apparently they were a good distance from their car on the Cherokee Trail when the skies opened up and let loose a torrent of cats and dogs. Gotta watch out for those storms... the dogs will knock you to the ground, but the cats will claw you when they land on you!

While the firelight's aglow, strange shadows in the flames will grow
Till things we've never seen will seem familiar

We walked into the ancient Taco Mac to find Oread sitting at a long table, polishing off a bottle of Sam Adams Cherry Wheat. With the introductions out of the way, we pounded on the table until Amanda, our server, came to quiet us down with promises of libations to take our (imaginary) troubles away. I requested a Unibroue La Fin Du Monde (a Belgian Tripel-style brew that carries a 9% ABV). Oread got dibs on the first Highland Gaelic Ale, Becky got a Sierra Nevada Porter (at my suggestion), Nick went for a Highland Tasgell Ale, and Josh (Gamboling J) got a... Diet Coke.

I set about prepping the Event Logbook, having not had time at home or at work to do so. There was even a demonstration of my latest experimental stamp mounting technique: the same clipboard backing as usual, but instead of Goop, I used a small section of double-stick foam (about 1/16" thick). We'll see if this holds up in the hot, humid Georgia summers. With that taken care of, the event book went around the table and got back to me just in time for me to hand it to...

... BZ Mom! This was a pleasant surprise! I hadn't seen her in years, it seems, and none of the other folks had met her... but they had seen that BZ stamp in a few of the oldest boxes at the Big Rock. Amyrica and Giraffe arrived soon afterwards.

Shadows of a sailor forming
Winds both foul and fair all swarm
Down in Carlisle he loved a lady
Many years ago

And then man of the hour, birthday boy Mark, arrived, followed by CJ and missvtn, then Judith, T Rex, and Artemis. With the gang all here, Mark was inundated with little birthday gifts (I gave him a Grateful Letterboxer Patch, and though I didn't pay too much attention to the rest, I did see an AQ patch... appropriate for AQ Member #7!!)

Mark ordered up a Pabst Blue Ribbon before anybody could stop him, Amyrica had a Miller Lite (at least it was in a bottle!), and I'm not sure what the others were drinking. However, with dinner nearly finished for some and on the way for others, it was time for another round. Nick threw down the gauntlet by order a mind-numbing Flying Dog Horn Dog Barleywine Ale (10.5% ABV). Becky went for a Gaelic Ale, Oread ordered Mark a 4-beer sampler of some really good stuff (what, I'm not sure), and I countered Nick with an Anchor Old Foghorn Barleywine (8.8% ABV... hey, he had a DD).

Talk about boxing and life and life and boxing coursed over the table. Exploits of the HH puppies, Confederate and Cemetery, brought laughs to the table, as did mention of some of Eidolon's antics. The LBH conversation had Becky nearly in tears, and she had to pull the "Hear no Evil" monkey out of her boxin' bag.

While the storyteller speaks, a door within the fire creaks
Suddenly flies open, and a girl is standing there

Oread snuck off to corner Amanda and arrange for a special LBH birthday surprise for Mark...

And though time flies when you're having fun, and the hour for night boxing was drawing nigh, I was still thirsty... so I ordered a 4-beer sampler featuring 4 oz glasses of Highland Tasgall Ale, Read Seal Pale Ale, Terrapin India Brown Ale and a palate-cleansing Pilsner Urquell. (But instead of a Read Seal, I got a Terrapin Rye Ale, which Amanda was more than happy to replace with the correct brew, so Oread got to try the Rye.)

Just after those arrived, Oread's LBH birthday present for Mark came strutting over.

Eyes alight, with glowing hair, all that fancy paints as fair
She takes her fan and throws it in the lion's den

Though my frontal lobe subprocessors were getting confused and my cranial gyroscope was was trying to play tricks on me, I had the sense to stand up and aim the camera...

Which of you, to gain me, tell,
Will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take a chance

The sailor gave at least a try...

...as Mark got his "bl---ob".

Definitely the "climax" of the evening at Taco Mac!

The sailor "coming" out again, the Lady fairly leapt at him
That's how it stands today; you decide if he was wise

With cleanup now in progress, boxin' stuff was packed up, goodbyes were said with hugs and handshakes, and talk turned to who was going to embark upon the Night Rails expedition...

The storyteller makes no choice
Soon you will not hear his voice
His job is to shed light
And not to master

Artemis, Oread and I followed T Rex on a winding path to the west side of Stone Mountain Park, where I detoured to pick up Mark at his house. It was dark out there on the rails, following those little firetacks, but we found ALL the boxes T Rex had set out for our nightcap. No real injuries, no ticks (on me, at least), and thankfully no spider clotheslines. To tell more would spoil the fun for those of you who take the challenge...

Since the end is never told
We pay the teller off in gold
In hopes he will come back
But he cannot be bought or sold...

Actually, he can... Oread gave me a Pocono Lager to enjoy!

Inspiration, move me brightly
Light the song with sense and color
Hold away despair
More than this I will not ask
Faced with mysteries dark and vast
Statements just seem vain at last

Some rise, some fall, some climb
To get to Terrapin

Counting stars by candlelight
All are dim but one is bright
The spiral light of Venus
Rising first and shining best
From the northwest corner of a brand-new crescent moon
Crickets and cicadas sing
A rare different tune...

Terrapin Station
In the shadow of the moon
Terrapin Station
And I know we'll be there soon

Terrapin - I can't figure out
Terrapin - if it's the end or beginning
Terrapin - but the train's put its brakes
and the whistle is screaming: Terrapin

Wow, that wins the best post on the message boards award.

We had a great time, too bad we couldn't go nightboxing. Our DD had work the next day!

Y'all don't forget to log the Event Stamp!

That was a great write up... thank you

A beautiful write up. Most don't know the comfort of old Dead tunes. And friends on a birthday is forever remembered. I'm honored and grateful. And I was toasty, thanks to the combined effort. The patches will be with me always.

A grateful and slightly older Mark.