Fair Substitute

For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed fairs.

Some of my earliest memories are of my parents taking me to the Adams County Fair, located north of our home in Denver. Beyond the fair ground’s enormous and excellent playground (open year round), during fair season there were rides, politicians, and animals to see and explore.

I’d even consider my elementary school trips to the National Western Stock Show as a type of trip to the fair. There were more animals to see, professional cowboys, and everything else that defines The West.

Shortly after moving to Indiana—like the first week—I went up to the Indiana State Fair where my Father and I passed an agreeable day looking at the state’s finest horses, cows, chickens, pigs, and pork tenderloins. Although I’m too old and cynical to wander the midway like it’s a meaningfully exciting place, I still get a kick out of watching the kids on the Merry-Go-Round.

Unfortunately this year I ran out of time—I wasn’t able to hit the Monroe County Fair—a fair where I have enjoyed Deep Fat Fried Twinkies, Demolition Derbies, and County Fair Queen pageants.

As a substitute, Snooker and I are going to the Deutsch-Amerikanischen Volksfest up in Berlin this weekend.

For some reason I’m feeling antsy and a weekend escape to Berlin seems like the perfect plan, even though I don’t yet have evening plans (beyond the vague plan to go dancing). I was on the fence until Snooker suggested the Volksfest—within minutes of her email I had purchased the train tickets and booked my room at an inexpensive apartment.

Anybody want to join Snooker and me? If so, please contact Snooker, since I’ll be on the road and not regularly checking my email…

Comment about the above picture: It’s my most viewed picture on my Flickr stream with more than 6,000 views! It took me a long time to figure out why since I think it is a wholly unremarkable picture. Miss Kathryn Lee Middleton (Kate, for short) was a great County Fair Queen back in 2006. Another version of her is Prince William’s current/ex- girlfriend.