A few weeks ago, daughter-in-law Sara mentioned that she and Gideon and their girls planned to go to the Twin Cities to go to the Minnesota Zoo and the Minnesota State Fair.
How fun, I thought, quietly wishing that I could go too. I know I’m a bit crazy, especially for wanting to go to the “Great Minnesota Get Together.” All the people, the smells, the gooey and greasy foods, the traffic, the heat… But I love it.
Or at least I did the one time I attended the state fair. It was years and years ago, when my oldest son was just three years old. I went with a family group, with my aunt Nelda, cousin Sue, her children Roger and Rebecca, my sister Rhodelle, little Benjamin and our dear friend Inga, who recently passed away.
It was a wonderful trip. We also went to Valley Fair amusement park, but I remember the fair the best, with the people, the fun carnival games, and the cool chairlift that gave us a bird’s eye view over the fairgrounds.
We saw the country group Alabama in the bandstand. It was a fabulous concert. To this day when I hear Play me some mountain music…or If you’re gonna play in Texas…. I’m transported back to that energetic and entertaining concert.
Even the massive downpour that hit as we were leaving the concert didn’t detract from the fun. It rained so hard it was like we were standing in a shower. We started to run to the parking area, but after a few yards we realized running was futile. Our vehicles were many blocks away, there was no way we wouldn’t be drenched when we got there. So instead we slowed down and danced in the rain.
Inga, always a kook, started singing. At that time there was a silly MccDonald’s commercial about some kids at Camp Nippersinkers that got rained out and the kind counselor that took them to Mickey-D’s to dry out. Inga started singing the jingle at the top of her lungs, “We are Nippersinkers. We’re in luck. If it rains all week, just pretend you’re a duck!”
Wewereall shivering uncontrollably— but giggling hysterically— by the time we reached our cars. The rest of the weekend was fun too, but that day was the best. It is a wonderful memory and it is precious now that Inga is gone.
I haven’t been back to the fair. In part because we are just too busy, but also because Chuck is normally a crowd-hater. He doesn’t like large groups of people. He can’t stand waiting in line. And he doesn’t like heat. So I haven’t ever asked if he wanted to go to the fair. He does a lot of things for me, but I thought that would be pushing the envelope of his patience.
So when Sara talked about their trip, I just thought, how fun, and went on about my business. However, a few days later Sara was at our house again and she mentioned it and Chuck asked if we could invite ourselves to go along.
I was in shock. I had to look around to see if there was a ventriloquist throwing his voice, pretending to be Chuck. I resisted the impulse to feel his forehead, to see if he was feverish. Instead I pointed out that the fair is crazy with people, that traffic is crazy in the Cities and that it will be hot down there. I asked him if he was serious.
To my delight, he said yes! So we are heading to the state fair—not only the normally crazy and chaotic fair, but opening weekend of the fair, no less. Hopefully it won’t rain. But if it does, we’ll just have to make the most of it. Wish us luck!
Money is spent and
forgotten, while
unforgettable
memories live on.
Justine Kerfoot (Woman of the Boundary Waters)
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