August 19, 2006

World Equestrian Games Journals from Aachen
Mack's Musings
By Father Mack (a.k.a.: Father Larry David McCormick)
Photos by Ruth S. McCormick

“Enthusiasm Run Amok?” Special to Dressage Daily #3

Father Mack and Ruth Take a Walk Through Aachen

Anyone who knows me – whether that to-be-lamented individual is a brother or sister journalist, a regular reading of my ranting and raving, an afflicted student at the university, a parishioner, or (now) you dear souls who read DressageDaily to keep abreast of all things dressage-y – all such people know that I am (amongst my many failings) the very incarnation of what the British and Irish call “over the top.”

If you have made it past that convoluted (sorry ‘bout that) first sentence cum paragraph, I shall endeavor to explain: To be “over the top” is to carry what one does to extremes. It is not enough to have a clean home; it must be spotless. It is insufficient to have said home spotless; it must be germ free. It is not tolerable to have but one example in a story; the more the merrier. You get the idea, don’t you? (Or you soon will.)

Alright-y, then. If I am “over the top,” then the shopkeepers of Aachen are over the moon (perhaps Pluto). Obviously, the German equivalent of our chambers of commerce or some marketing mavens from the FEI World Equestrian Games took hold of the majority of downtown Aachen’s businessfolk and either threatened or cajoled them to decorate nearly every store window in greater Aachen with WEG posters, WEG flags, and images of Karli (the 2006 WEG mascot). In addition to WEG produced public relations’ materials, virtually every retail operation filled its windows with store-specific paraphernalia that could be related to the horse. During Ruth’s and my walk on this our first evening in Aachen no more than five percent of the stores lacked at least some nod in the direction of the WEG!

Even the most cursory glance at the photos accompanying this article will provide you with all the information required to confirm such a judgment. Follow me on a brief waltz of a few stores beginning at what most folks would consider the “top” of the economic food chain and working our way down. Do try to keep up as we trip the light fantastique. I will try not to tread upon your toes.