In any case, today was a bit of a bumpy road that gratefully ended well. I woke up feeling better but still tentative. And I was dizzy. And hung over from too much sugar. And my back hurt. And my knee needed to be iced. So yeah, I was sort of grumpy.
I carried that annoying little dwarf with me most of the day. I tried to have fun, I tried to be hungry, I tried to see the wonder and joy that usually defines My Fair. But it just wasn’t there. At 4:30pm, I was on the verge of tears and wanted to go home.
Instead, though, I told my best friend and Fair Buddy (we’ll call him Rob) that I needed a pep talk. So we camped out on the fringe on the kids’ stage and I whined for a bit.
Sizing things up with impressive speed…because I apparently get to this point to some degree every year…Rob pointed out that I was approaching the Fair as a job instead of my beloved 10 day escape of farmy fun. Instead of experiencing and participating, I have been observing and taking notes and writing in my head. I have been looking at each activity as a blog entry instead of something fun to do.
“Let’s watch the clowns,” he wisely insisted. “Just watch them and laugh. No pictures, no notes, just funny clowns doing goofy things. Then we can go home and you can get to bed early and we can try again tomorrow.”
Things usually work out better when I listen to my wise hubby (yes, I am admitting this publicly). Of course he was right. As I watched the clowns, I laughed. I took no notes, no pictures, no sentences percolated in my head.
As the clowns ended their show by covering the audience in toilet paper streamed out via leaf blowers (brilliance in action), tears welled up again. This time from joy at seeing the huge smiles and hearing the screams and giggles, especially from the kids but from some of the adults, too. Suddenly …. and finally…I was at the Fair.
We stayed for 4 more hours. Had dinner even. Good lord, I love my husband and am so grateful for him.
Wow, that was heavier and mushier than I intended. But it’s the truth of the day and the rest of today’s story would feel forced and fake if I didn't put it all in context.
With that catharsis completed, here are some FUN highlights of the day. Because in the end, I really truly sincerely did have a FUN day. Thank you, my dear Rob.
Rob had a cheeseburger for lunch just to mock them
We ate lunch ring-side at the black cow judging. I am sure they have a technical name, the black cows. They were all really big and female and black and, in the end (literally), rather stinky. I’m not sure I would recommend the venue for dining.
In any case, as the cows were being judged on their flanks and utters and side views, I enjoyed watching the handlers try to wrangle the cows around the ring. It was clearly not a showmanship competition. I also eventually had to ask one of the wranglers on a break why they kept tickling the cows’ underbellies with long pointy sticks.
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| Coochie coochie coo! |
“It keeps them calm.”
It should have been my first hint that my sour mood was showing when Rob lovingly said, “Maybe I should try that on you.”
I also finally figured out where the inspiration for the shape of cowboy hats came from:
The best part was when the hamster accidentally flew off the stage
I kept seeing it on the schedule so I informed Rob we were going to watch the “Dragon Theater Puppet Show.” I will probably be apologizing to him for the rest of the Fair. While great for kids hyped up on funnel cake and blue raspberry Slush Puppies, the show was weird and chaotic and had less of a plot that a Road Runner cartoon.
It featured three superheroes: Rocket Hamster, Samurai Flower (complete with politically incorrect Asian accent), and Super Banana Man (whose kryptonite was being too squishy). Eventually they somehow defeated the villain Bad Idea (a caped light bulb), and confoundingly wrapped it all up with a plea to end world hunger. I clearly had not had enough sugar to understand. My bad.
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| Bad Idea with a laser gun powered by Rocket Hamster in the Hamster Wheel of Doom Oy. |
I am wearing an ice pack as I write this
Prior to my pre-clown meltdown, we watched a jump rope contest. Although she didn’t win, the 14 year old girl with a sizable brace due to a dislocated knee got a shout-out from the judge for completing 43 jumps in a minute. Apparently the girl had also competed earlier in the Hula Hoop contest.
I’ve been proudly NOT wearing my knee brace the past two days, pleased that having sprained it just 2 short months ago, I am finally walking hills and climbing stairs and able to walk with my eyes ahead instead of fixed on the ground. Sigh. Youth. Blah. But hey – did I mention no knee brace and no wiggly jiggly in 2 days??? Yippee! Go 47-year-old knee!
Proof that the clowns turned my frown upside down.
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| I might frame this as a reminder of a magical moment. |
I wore the nose a good portion of the rest of the afternoon. Rob insisted that I needed to wear it as a reminder to have fun. Did I mention he’s a smart man? And so wear it I did. Some people smiled, some had a hard time talking to me without staring at it, but most just sized me up as somebody’s goofy mom. I suppose there could be worse things.
I admit I felt a bit awkward and conspicuous at first. Then I saw a young man walk by in a full business suit. He looked way more out of place than I did so the nose stayed on. I plan to keep it in my purse and wear it as needed. And I don’t mean just at the Fair.
It just kept getting better and better. Amen.
My mood continued to brighten when we hung out with some llamas. Llamas always make everything better. Rojo and his buddies don’t show up until Wednesday so these were stand-in llamas but therapeutic nonetheless.
Then we watched the Kaleinani o ke Kukui Hawaiian Dance troupe (yes, please feel free to Google and spellcheck that, I dare you). The Hawaiian music transported me to my happy place. Well, one of them. I am blessed to have several. Did I mention llamas?
With the clowns, the nose, the llamas, the Hawaiian music, a milkshake (FINALLY! Welcome back, appetite!), and chatting with good friends (thanks, John and Shelley and Maddie!) -- I ended the day in such a good mood. My attitude has shifted, my eyes have their twinkle back (Rob again), and my priority is first to ENJOY the Fair, not report on it. Yes, I can and still will do both. But the switcheroo in my head and my focus makes all the difference. Goodbye Grumpy, hello Happy!
Fair Day Data:
- Total walking logged on my pedometer: 2.51 miles (a light walking day due to much time being spent on benches trying to figure out why I wasn't having any fun)
- Time at which we saw the first set of Magic Brooms being carried around: 5:59pm
- Re-entry hand stamp: horse
Fair Food Feast Parade!
I wasn’t sure where today’s parade would end up. At times I felt ok, others I felt nauseous. I am still a bit uncertain about fried foods and my hollow leg is still MIA. Nevertheless, today’s Parade is still a far departure from my day-to-day diet and thus I still feel like I am cheating somehow. And really, isn’t that the point? Yay cheating!
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| Pastrami sandwich from the Church Ladies Pie booth. I forgot how good mayonnaise is! |
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| Potato chips that came with the sandwich. The last time I ate potato chips was the SuperBowl. Oh yes, I have lots of food rules. |
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| I was a little desperate for the sugar and caffeine to kick in. |
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| I just can't seem to sip a straw without looking like I am smoking a pipe. Anyway, very tasty strawberry fruit Smasher. I smoked this for hours. |
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| Still working on my white cheddar popcorn from yesterday. Yes, I brought the baggie from home. |
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| CORN DOG! YES! Finally in the mood for a little fried something. From the Lions booth -- always my favorite. HALLELUJAH! |
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| First Dairy Women Milkshake of the year! I was too late to get the special (chocolate cherry) so I improvised and got a chocolate one with strawberries mixed in. So far the tummy is doing just fine. YAY! Keeping hope alive! |
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