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Desert royalty

Doug Kerr

Well-known member
This past Saturday (2014.05.10), the Alamogordo (N.M.) Downtown Merchants' Association sponsored a Renaissance Faire. This involved blocking off from vehicular traffic the entire Alamogordo downtown area (that is to say, New York Avenue between 9th Street and 10th Street). Citizens were invited to attend in "period attire".

There were numerous booths for local artist and artisans, lots of good food, and the eclectic shops along New York Avenue were buzzing. And of course the people watching was fabulous!

This shot, by a paparazzo in a full-dress kit outfit (well, that is certainty suited to some period) caught some of the royalty of our little desert town:

RenFaire_G00967-01-C2-S800.jpg


Douglas A. Kerr: Alamogordo royalty

Left: Carla, Queen Ladybird of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society. This was her first public appearance since completing a long series of hospital stays.

Center: Alamogordo Mayor Susie Galea. She had a busy day, since there was also a big event at nearby Holloman Air Force Base, with flybys from World War II aircraft and such.

Susie was recently restored to office by the first ever citizen's vote for the office (before this term the mayor was elected by the City Commission from their ranks). Alamogordo has what is formally called a "weak mayor" form of governance. When the good ol' boys on the Commission elected Susie, they thought that was what they were actually getting. They were very wrong.

They spent almost her whole term looking for a way to rewind that tactical error. They finally contrived a sneaky parliamentary trick to unseat her. But by that time, the citizens had enacted a change to the city charter such that henceforth the mayor would be elected by the citizens. And Susie won for the next term handily.

Right: Two princesses of the clan of Galea.

It was a lovely event.

Best regards,

Doug
 

Doug Kerr

Well-known member
Carla's official Red Hat Event outfits often involve a boa for her neck (feathered, that is), but that was not prat of her rig for the Renaissance Faire.

It's common for Red Hatters, and at a Red Hat convention, the hotel's vacuum cleaners are clogged with red and purple feathers for weeks afterward.​

But this charming lass made up for it:

RenFaire_G00980-01-C1-S800.jpg


Douglas A. Kerr: A boa around the neck

Best regards,

Doug
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
This past Saturday (2014.05.10), the Alamogordo (N.M.) Downtown Merchants' Association sponsored a Renaissance Faire. This involved blocking off from vehicular traffic the entire Alamogordo downtown area (that is to say, New York Avenue between 9th Street and 10th Street). Citizens were invited to attend in "period attire".

There were numerous booths for local artist and artisans, lots of good food, and the eclectic shops along New York Avenue were buzzing. And of course the people watching was fabulous!

Doug,

The citizens certainly know how to stir things up, even in the desert. So were their any drunks or fights or everyone was well-behaved?


This shot, by a paparazzo in a full-dress kit outfit (well, that is certainty suited to some period) caught some of the royalty of our little desert town:

RenFaire_G00967-01-C2-S800.jpg


Douglas A. Kerr: Alamogordo royalty

Left: Carla, Queen Ladybird of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society. This was her first public appearance since completing a long series of hospital stays.

Center: Alamogordo Mayor Susie Galea. She had a busy day, since there was also a big event at nearby Holloman Air Force Base, with flybys from World War II aircraft and such.

I've seen some pretty good pictures of Carla and her red hats! This one beats them all. What a beauty you captured! Carla is a heroine for the joy she brings to everyone around her and her own dogged perseverance!


Susie was recently restored to office by the first ever citizen's vote for the office (before this term the mayor was elected by the City Commission from their ranks). Alamogordo has what is formally called a "weak mayor" form of governance. When the good ol' boys on the Commission elected Susie, they thought that was what they were actually getting. They were very wrong.

They spent almost her whole term looking for a way to rewind that tactical error. They finally contrived a sneaky parliamentary trick to unseat her. But by that time, the citizens had enacted a change to the city charter such that henceforth the mayor would be elected by the citizens. And Susie won for the next term handily.

You guys are lucky to have new and honest blood to lead the folk in the 21st Century. A great example she'll be to the young girls of her clan and the others in the city.

Asher
 

Doug Kerr

Well-known member
Hi, Asher,

The citizens certainly know how to stir things up, even in the desert. So were their any drunks or fights or everyone was well-behaved?
Actually, everything was very calm. Even the mock sword fights were pretty tame.

I've seen some pretty good pictures of Carla and her red hats! This one beats them all. What a beauty you captured! Carla is a heroine for the joy she brings to everyone around her and her own dogged perseverance!
I am so very proud of her. Thanks for your kind thoughts.

You guys are lucky to have new and honest blood to lead the folk in the 21st Century. A great example she'll be to the young girls of her clan and the others in the city.

We are very proud of our Susie. She has been pivotal in many things to bring the town forward.

By the way, here we are just about to leave for the event:

RenFaire_F41948-02-S800.jpg


Douglas A. Kerr: Doug and Carla, May, 2014

Something strange went badly wrong with the AF on this quick lockdown selfie, and I just now recovered it with brute force USM sharpening, so please excuse the poor image.

At the event, there were several ladies who asked if they could pet my sporran. (Yes, there is a pocket knife and small screwdriver in it.)

Best regards,

Doug
 

Doug Kerr

Well-known member
Hi, Asher,

RenFaire_G00967-01-C2-S800.jpg


Douglas A. Kerr: Alamogordo royalty

I am happy to be reminded of such a warm picture. This is real Americana in action! In a way, it's "Village life in the USA"

Sadly, Susie Galea has recently resigned her position as our mayor. A big factor is that both her daughters have some special medical needs that can be much better met in Albuquerque, where she will be moving. (In Alamogordo one can't even get a hangnail properly diagnosed!)

But there is no doubt that another factor was just that she didn't really want to put up with the abuse that was continually heaped on her by the Good Ol' Boys (often through their ladies' auxiliary, The Otero County Republican Women). She was treated the same way president Obama has been treated by the Republicans (and she is white and a Republican!).

But, sic transit gloria mundi.

Best regards,

Doug
 
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