I love the fair!
The North Texas State Fair is in full swing and as Karen & I walked around it brought back many memories.
The recollections started on the drive to the fair grounds. We drove by places that our children went to as they went through childhood and early adulthood. The reminiscing continued as we parked behind an old Baptist Church next to the fair. Karen lived in Denton, Tx. as a little girl. She remembers attending Central Baptist Church and accepting Christ there. After getting our tickets we walked by the stage that our middle daughter Emily sang from every year she was in high school.
We walked through the animal exhibit areas and watched as the people scurried around getting their prize steers ready for the show. The animals seemed oblivious to all the hustle and bustle. People in their best western duds were washing, brushing, clipping and primping their star attractions. Fans hanging from the stalls buzzed endlessly keeping the animals and their owners cool. Sawdust, straw, hay and manure littered the ground. The smells and sounds brought back memories from my years on Dad's farm. The area fairs were always a highlight for us. There we could see the new farm equipment, the neighbors hay and even some of their best canning and cooking! Back then many seed and fertilizer vendors had booths showing off their new products also. Farmers are always looking for an edge for the next crop! That was noticeably missing from this particular fair although the memories flooded back all the same.
Continuing our tour we walked through the carnival area. It hadn't started yet and the Carnies were busy setting up, checking and getting ready for the fun to begin soon. The various prizes you can seemingly never win called out to us as we passed by the game booths. I went back to the times begging Mom & Dad for coins so that I could play. Now of course I know why they were so reluctant to give me the money but they always relented. The rides and fun houses were next. Now that I feel mortal I don't ride them but certainly can still feel the rush of adrenaline from the various whirling thrill machines.
On the way to our final stop we walked through the food area. All the old favorites were there. Corny Dogs, BBQ, Turkey legs, Snow Cones, Roasted Corn, Lemonade, Ice Cream made their annual appearances. I even stopped and bought a piece of spicy beef jerky just for old time's sake. We stopped by the petting zoo so Karen could pet an animal. She just has to touch them in a show of her affection for Gods creatures. Next we watched sawdust fly as a man with a noisy chainsaw made carvings for your viewing and/or buying pleasure. We then moseyed over to where several new car dealers had tents where we could admire the latest offerings. The new car smell is a fleeting but nice memory once you can forget the car buying experience.
The next exhibit hall had all the art, antiques, pictures, blankets, quilting and other exhibits. Jennifer, our youngest daughter, took art classes and entered pictures in some contests. Some of the displays showed incredible talent and beauty while others showed how proud parents loved their kids regardless of their artistic talents. Karen loves this part. Her head gets filled up with new ideas and begins to plan her next artistic endeavor. In the same area they had an upscale flea market where a few lucky vendors got to sell their wares. Again Karen is pleased and browses for little gifts and ideas.
I hope you take some time and attend your own local and perhaps state fair. If you don't have your own old memories perhaps you can create some for yourself and/or your children.
Thanks again for letting me take the wheel,
Robert