August 20, 2013
Annual County Fair's Strange Allure

Well another county fair has come and gone, marking the beginning of the end of, well I won't even say it.  But memories of past fairs come flooding in as I take in the traditions associated with the fair. 

Being raised a city girl, going to the fair took on a much different connotation than most. I wasn't privy to the true grit of what truly the county fair is all about.  But nevertheless, it still holds a special charm to me and etches an edible memory in my mind.

Once a year we visited that magical, momentous event in our town.  It was something I looked forward to eagerly.  Our family made one visit to that short-lived gig. We'd park the car on the vast grass parking lot and trek towards the excitement.   I'd relish in the vision of the sights and sounds of the carnival ahead, with visions of caramel apples, cotton candy and other delights in my head. 

 Perhaps most memorable to me was wandering the exhibits with my parents.  Of course the highlight of the affair was the booth that gave out Indian headbands complete with a colorful feather. I suspect they were turkey feathers that had been colored various hues, but for me, it wasn't complete until I strapped that band on and proudly wore the feather on my head.  

Of course there were lots of other neat perks including the bright yard sticks that my folks would tote home.  But none remain so colorful as my Indian maiden headdress.

And then it was on to the midway.  I'll admit that the only ride I ever partook in was the merry-go-round.. To this day it remains my favorite delight and I have indulged in my adulthood magical horse rides at the State Fair, Como Park, and of course the magical carousel at the Lark Toy store in Kellogg, Minnesota.  There's just something about the lilting music and the rise and fall of the statuesque horses on a merry-go-round.  

I never tire of it.

As I grew into teen hood it was almost an embarrassment to me that I could never brave the more daring, adventurous rides, opting for the comfort of the circling horse ride.  That's not to say that I did not venture into the world of the tilt-a-whirl eventually.  It is the brief moment in one's life when you experience the thrill of spinning out of control, laughing and screaming a release of joy when you realize true joy.

The gilded glory of the fair and all it meant to me has tarnished somewhat, yet some of the magic remains.  For a few short days, hours, minutes, a world of intrigue and excitement exists.  And then it's gone.  What more can one ask for?  It's memories that are created at the fair.

When my oldest son was but a mere child, he took pride in keeping inventory of the rides as they rolled into town past our house in route to the fair grounds.  He kept a running tally of the rides as the arrived and I can well imagine the anticipation he felt as he watched them rolling past. Seeing my children running gleefully on the midway grounds only brought back the feelings I had when I was a youngster. It was truly magical.

So, take my advice:  when given the opportunity to spin uncontrollably or dash daringly into the unknown, take it.  Take the opportunity to experience what comes around only briefly and soon is gone.  The feeling may only come around once a year and you must grab a hold while you've got the chance.