Pure Americana

We did the Clark County Fair up in rare form this year! Every year on opening day of the Fair, there is a Pancake Breakfast and free admission into the Fair. We have been going every year since 2004 when Lexi was 17 months old. The first year we were on the local news station's broadcast because it was POURING down rain and we had the cutest baby at the Fair! This year, it was cloudy and gloomy, but it didn't really rain once on us all day. And again, we had the cutest baby at the Fair with us! But no TV appearance this year.

However, I would be remiss if I didn't share several quotes and happenings that really summed up our 2008 County Fair experience:

1. Overheard in the "Recycle" booth - asked of the expert by a woman in a loud, gravelly voice, "So, how do you recycle dog sh*t?"

2. Overheard by the "Spinning Bear" ride - screamed by a wound-tight, expressive crazy mom, "SHELBY!! DON'T SPIN IT SO FAST!! YOU'LL FREAK OUT YOUR SISTER!!"

3. Upon circling the parking lot for 10 minutes looking for a space after we returned to the Fair from our mid-afternoon break, Lexi announced, "Walking is BORING! Animals are BORING! The only thing fun is the RIDES!"

4. Said by a woman speaking on a cell phone in the exhibit hall, "Yeah. We're in Washington at the State Fair!"

5. This ironic sign:

6. This disturbing sign:

7. I would have bought the T-shirt for Mitch, but they didn't have it in "wife-beater" style...

There were more gems that I am sure I am missing, but those pretty much sum up the day. I always wonder every year at the Fair, "Where the h*ll are these people the rest of the year?" No judgement on my part, but there definitely is a "different" crowd than we are used to. The bottom line is every body seems to be friendly and it is nice to know that some things never change - the Fair means cow, pigs, quilts, rides, milkshakes and a slice of true rural America!

Until next year...