Lewis Moten

Unveiling the Code: Institutional Memory & Obsessions

Library, Parade, and Clowning Around

A lot has happened in the past few days, with most of my attention focused on Samuels Public Library and the formation of a new Warren County Library Board.

On Saturday, I enjoyed pancakes at the Kiwanis Annual Pancake Day at Warren County High School, where I ran into a few familiar faces. Later, I had another Q&A session at the library. I was more prepared to introduce myself this time (Timestamp 54:50), but I got choked up when it came to explaining why I had dropped out of college.

Kiwanis Annual Pancake Day
Samuels Public Q&A Forum

The meeting ran late, and I was responsible for gathering the guys at the Lodge for our first year participating in the Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas parade (timestamp 48:40). Brothers came and went throughout the day based on their schedules to help with preparations. We managed to decorate the truck and get it into the lineup. I dressed as Fred Flintstone, complete with my Water Buffalo hat, and handed out candy during the parade.

Masonic Entry in Parade
Handing Out Candy at Christmas Parade

After returning to the Lodge, we quickly took down the decorations from the truck. I made it back to the town square just in time for the Christmas tree lighting. Afterward, I relaxed at the Beer Museum with a soda before heading home.

On Sunday, I became a member of the Ancient and Heroic order of the Gordian Knot, an honorary appendant body for Masons with lifetime membership. It was an incredibly enjoyable experience, made even more special by learning that we were the first group to go through the ceremony in Virginia and that no other Synod exists on the East Coast.

On Monday, I spent most of the day preparing materials for the Board of Supervisors meeting. I printed two reports, my letter to the editor, my speech, and a brief bio about myself, organizing everything into 10 colorful folders to represent inclusivity and diversity. By the end of it, I had gone through an entire ream of paper, and all four toner cartridges now need replacing!

Tuesday was the big day. Since I was already prepared, I spent most of the day taking it easy and doing some light prep. I put on my suit and added a bit of humor to the occasion by wearing my blue Water Buffalo hat with horns, which got quite a few smiles as I walked around town.

In the afternoon, I headed to the community center to play Mahjong. I won two out of four games by sticking to the same hand strategy each time. Given what was ahead that evening, I wasnā€™t in the mood to strategize heavily during the shuffle, and the hand I chose was simple to remember.

Fishing in Mahjong

I then headed to the library to volunteer at “What The Tech?” where I assist people with their devices. Only two attendees needed help, so I teamed up with another volunteer to troubleshoot a laptop issue where the audio device wasnā€™t being recognized. It was a tricky problem, and with the time we had, we managed to fix a few issues and get Bluetooth working as a temporary solution.

Afterward, I stopped by Troop 52’s Christmas tree lot and made a cash donation since I didnā€™t need a tree. Next, I visited the VA Beer Museum, where they surprised me by stocking root beer just for me. With time running short, I headed to Royal Cinemas for the Chamber of Commerceā€™s Business After Hours event. I had just enough time to grab dinner, greet a few people, and then head off to the supervisors’ meeting.

The public hearing was quite crowded. I signed up to speak and was assigned spot #97. I was directed to my reserved seat. I sat with the podium positioned just to my left facing my representative. I handed seven copies of my report to the county clerk and sent three additional copies to the media team. Throughout the evening, I alternated my attention between the supervisors and the speakers.

In God We Trust

The 7:00 meeting proceeded quickly, and the supervisors called a recess before the public hearing officially began at 7:30 p.m. I finally had my chance to speak for three minutes shortly after midnight. Two speakers later mentioned me by name shortly afterwards, including Dr. Francis, referencing the reports I had submitted to the Royal Examiner. That recognition for my work left me needing a moment to step outside, take a breath, and collect myself.

Roughly 100 speakers opposed the proposed new library board, while 16 spoke in favor. Once the public had finished, the supervisors each delivered their remarks, mostly pre-written speeches, affirming the votes many of us had already anticipated. It became clear that the hearing was little more than a formality and that they weren’t genuinely listening to their constituents.

Supervisor Dr. Jamieson waited until everyone else had spoken before turning on a TV to present prepared slides. Given his perceived lack of credibility and tendency for lengthy speeches, I decided to leave. I later learned that most of the audience had done the same.

Wednesday was a mostly restful day, spent largely in bed. I made a brief trip to the library to share news about a fresh article that had just been published by The Washington Post. Later in the day, I headed to the Kena Shrine in Manassas to meet up with some members of the Klown Club. Now that Iā€™m officially a Shriner, Iā€™m eligible to join the clowns, and the group was as lively and full of laughs as Iā€™d imagined.

During the meeting, I submitted my petition, and they voted to accept me as a probationary clown. I even received my clown name and got to “pick my nose”ā€”choosing a clown style based on the painted designs on the door. I went with the hobo/tramp look, complete with coal-smudged cheeks. The meeting was packed with advice and information, which I found both overwhelming and exciting.

Afterward, I returned to On Cue in Front Royal, where I caught up with some friends. They congratulated me on becoming a clown and one shared details about The Invisible Lodge, a group for Masons who enjoy performing magic tricks.

Probationary Clown

On Thursday, I went thrift shopping at Blue Ridge Hospice, Goodwill, and Salvation Army to find pieces for my clown outfit. I also checked out Fleetwood Vintage, which typically has some unique and stylish clothing, though anything in my size tends to sell out quickly. For about $20, I scored an oversized corduroy jacket with lots of pockets, a purple button-up shirt, a green tie, a corduroy flat cap, suspenders, and a pair of pants. Unfortunately, the suspenders were too small.

Starting to put my hobo/tramp clown suite together

I also stopped by the Play Favorites toy store, where the owner had previously mentioned having a book on making balloon animals (Schylling How to Make Balloon Animals), which included balloons and a pump. While I was there, I picked up another magic trick set (Marvin’s Treasured Magic Tricks), but later discovered that the disappearing rabbit was missing from the kit.

So far, Iā€™ve discovered that Iā€™m quite skilled at making snakes and worms! I started working on balloon animals using the book, which begins with a dog. On my first attempt, I managed to twist the nose and one ear, but as I worked on the second earā€”POP! On my second try, I almost had it, but when I tried to straighten the head, the nose popped. Third timeā€™s the charm! The result was a lopsided dog, but a success nonetheless. With each attempt, I moved through the steps a little faster as I started to get the hang of the technique.

My first “successful” balloon animal, with a twist

And that sums up my week so far.

Here are some news articles recently published about the library

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