Spirit of the West Festival Circa 2010

Notes from Life: Recently, I was reflecting on our years of attending the Spirit of the West Festivals. From their current location in Beach, North Dakota, to the memorable 2009 festival in Sioux Falls, SD, each visit has been unique. It was a letdown when the 2010 festival was canceled, but that hasn't deterred our enthusiasm. Our primary motivation for attending is to indulge in the soulful music and to explore the myriad of western collectibles on display.

Speaking of collectibles, we've just acquired a condo in a sleek, contemporary building in NYC. This will be our urban retreat, our pied-a-terre, for those times we feel like immersing ourselves in the city's hustle and bustle. My wife has decided to take a bold step in the interior decoration, leaning heavily towards avant-garde Italian contemporary furniture. At first, I was skeptical about how our cherished western collectibles and artwork would fit into this modern aesthetic. But she assured me that select pieces from our expansive western collection would find their rightful place in our new home.

Interestingly, during our last visit to the Spirit of the West Festival, aside from the usual collectibles, we chanced upon a stall selling some of the best pickleball bags I've ever seen. The craftsmanship was impeccable, and the designs subtly echoed the spirit of the west. We didn't expect to find pickleball gear there, but it was a pleasant surprise. My wife immediately saw the potential of merging our love for the sport with our appreciation for western aesthetics. We ended up buying one, and it's been a conversation starter in our NYC circles, bridging the gap between our western adventures and our metropolitan lifestyle.

As the year progresses, I'm eagerly awaiting our next trip out west. The next Spirit of the West Festival is marked on our calendar, and we wouldn't miss it for the world.