A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER

Oh, yes: 2020—a year none of us will forget, no matter how hard we try.

I was selected as Admiral Windwagon Smith XLVII in secrecy by Riverfest’s Past Admirals Windwagon Smith. My year started with planning the public reveal, getting fitted for my uniform, and trying to keep the chatty Past Admirals from exposing me to the public. As far as getting suited up, the Riverfest has worked with two vendors for many years: Fruhauf Uniforms and Hatman Jack’s Wichita Hat Works. Fruhauf is located in an industrial area, so going in there to get measured for the red jacket doesn’t draw any attention. Alternatively,

A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER By Admiral Windwagon Smith XLVII Clay Bastian

Hatman Jack’s is a retail store with shoppers. When I went there, I asked for Jack and figured he would take me to a discreet area to be fitted for the Admiral’s hat. It turned out Jack was out of town and a young man named Austin could help me. I quietly told him, “I’m the Guy, you know, the next Admiral.” For the next hour Austin measured, steamed, and formed a hat into the shape it needed to be to fit my noggin. The hat would be ready in a few weeks with all the fancy details attached. After we parted, I’m walking back to my car in the rain. Austin comes out of the store after me and says, “Please, just one more thing.” We go back into the shop and he asks if he could get a picture with me. I’ve got nothing on me that says Riverfest or Admiral. At that point it sunk in that this Admiral gig is a really big deal.

March 4 was the public Admiral Reveal at Shift Auto Society. Shift is kind of a garage social club for motorheads and hipsters. The Schooner Mates and I did a procession up the basement ramp in a silly little car to the main floor of Shift, amid clouds of fog and applause from the gathered crowd. After a few speeches and press interviews, it was party time. The following week was the first of my 44 scheduled community group events promoting the Riverfest. Then it all fell apart. The 2020 (in-person) Wichita Riverfest was officially cancelled.

Somehow, the staff at Wichita Festivals, Inc. came up with a plan for a Virtual Riverfest on social media channels. These nine days of activities featured a symphony concert, contests, numerous videos, a shoebox parade and even a car show. My wife, Kate, took goofy photos of me all over town for a game called “Where’s Windwagon?” Everyone did a heck of a job, but we all missed being together, of course.

My time with this year’s Prairie Schooner Mates was far too short. We were able to get together (socially distanced) to present awards to a number of contest winners and to distribute food packages at the Salvation Army, but that was about it. These young people represent the 24 best and brightest juniors at Wichita area high schools. This was their year, and like so many other things that have happened in 2020, this was another massive disappointment.

There is some good news. I’ve been asked to serve as Admiral Windwagon Smith XLVIII for Riverfest 2021, and any Schoonies who are available will join me. 2021 can’t come soon enough. The unpredictability of our environment hasn’t changed, but the next year has to be better than the one we’ve stumbled through. Let’s all support the determination of our city, state, and nation to achieve a better normal and be able to party together soon.