Fair time comes but once a year and this year was no exception. I made it a point to attend as I always do, because I like to think that it connects me to my community. This annual event occurs around the country and heralds the coming of the Fall Season. Farmers from all over the county, city, and locales gather to exhibit the fruits of their labours all summer long and compete for top honours. The end of growing season not only marks the passing of time, but also is a reason for celebration.
Local fairs in my eyes should be something every person should want to attend. Where else can you get a deep fried Oreo cookie or a candle produced by local residents, not a multimillion dollar corporation? The connections one can make are endless and in my personal example I got to meet the Antelope Valley Republicans Chapter. I instantly gravitated towards them and struck up a conversation. I told them about myself, and made NO light of who I am as a person. I told them about conservagays and three of the four booth workers looked at me like I was speaking a different language. The fourth worker embraced it and understood that we are a valid sect of the tent, and regardless of whom we choose to bed, our support would help the party. Just because we’re homosexual doesn’t mean we don’t value individual liberties or limited government, and the truth is, the “gay agenda” is something liberals make up to capitalize on a minority’s insecurities.
The sights and sounds of the fair are intoxicating, the aromas that assail the sense of smell range from pure to pungent, and eventually these senses become a memory. Year after year, I remember where I was in that moment and as time passes, the memory brings a longing for the next year when I can do it all again. Watching people as they shuffle through the event, playing games riding coasters, stuffing their faces, and just enjoying themselves is also a point of joy for me. I like to be aware of my surroundings at all times and people watching at the fair with friends can be just as entertaining as going to the cinema; even more so I think. For those wanting to connect with other locals, the fair offers a perfect opportunity to engage them with a glance, a conversation, or an offer of a game in the carnival.
This year I happened to be walking through the exhibit hall when a voice from behind called my name. It was a friend from high school that I hadn’t seen since graduation. She was my “fruit fly” when I didn’t know what I was but we had a great bond that was strengthened Junior and Senior years. The visibility that the fair offered allowed me to reconnect with someone I treasured and an opportunity to rekindle our friendship. Families were introduced and had I not attended, my friendship would still be just a memory.
I encourage people to get to know their community and I feel that if I’m going to encourage, I had better live up to my own words. Be a part of your community because it IS where you live. Sure some of us commute, or spend more time at home than out and an about, but all of us make up the cities and towns we live in and we should want to be a part of them. This is what makes us stronger, and these are the memories that will last a lifetime for us and for our children. Remember when YOUR parents took you to the fair? I do.
