Musings on the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival Part 1

I have been remiss about posting on the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival.  I promise I will get some pictures up here.  But...

Some things I didn't know when I visited the Macon Cherry Blossom festival.  I need to explain here that Macon, Georgia has seen better days.  So much better that I had fears of going there - because I read things about how high crime it was, about how people were in danger just going to a place called the Okmulgee Indian Mounds, which are a couple of miles from downtown.

So why did I go?  It was memories of a stop on the edge of Macon in 2006 during a trip to Florida, and all the friendly people I ran into.  Of walking into a Wal-Mart at 10pm and seeing the people there (it was NOT a "People of Wal-Mart" type experience.  But it was quite interesting.). Of eating some of the best BBQ this side of Heaven.  And then, when I got home, reading about the cherry blossom festival and saying "one day I am going to see that!"

And the fact that a family member has been to Macon many times (on business) and had favorable things to say about it.

I overcame my fears and we went, and we had a good time.  Maybe it was safer because of it being festival time. (from some things I saw, I suspect this was the case.)

Would I have enjoyed it more (or less) knowing how much danger elements of the festival may be in?  And, will I ever return?  To both I have to say "I really don't know."  But, Macon has inserted itself under my skin.  Georgia, 6 weeks later, is definitely still on my mind.

Why?  Because Binghamton could learn from them.  Binghamton must learn, if it doesn't want to be washed up on the shores of history.