March 19, 2025: The Amazing Brochure

My childhood vacations meant Myrtle Beach, SC.

I remember the sunburns, saltwater taffy, seafood dinners, amusement park rides, and buying a new t-shirt each year.

But there was something else I’ve never forgotten: the brochures.

Most restaurants and beach shops had racks of tourist pamphlets by their entrance. And one always caught my eye: the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum. It showcased the world’s tallest man, a shrunken head, mind-bending optical illusions, and a two-headed calf. If only I could get inside.

Each summer, I’d grab that promotion and beg my parents to take me. In fifteen years of trying, I succeeded exactly once. And it was glorious.

Today in my marketing position, I created a brochure for a Williamsburg history museum. And I thought about those Ripley’s flyers that captivated me as a kid, promising wonders beyond my imagination.

Funny how a childhood obsession turned into an actual job.

Minus any shrunken heads.