I went to a county fair last night. Actually, had to work there. No, not operating the Zipper. There's a lot to like about a fair. Many-colored lights, spinning rides, games, and of course, the food. Cotton candy, corn dogs, funnel cakes, and my item of choice last eve. The candy apple.
I also enjoyed a live performance by 1980's country superstar Earl Thomas Conley. Go ahead, google it, I'll wait...
Fairs signal the arrival of fall. Or something. People always ask your favorite season. And I can't remember what I usually say. I like winter because of Christmas, and the ever-dwindling hope of seeing a snowflake. And summer for the beach. But if I really think about it, there's more I like about fall that probably any other season.
There's football, of course. And long sleeves. And the changing colors. And did I mention football?
The only problem with fall is that it doesn't really last three months here. More like three weeks, maybe. The first part is usually still hot. And the last part is cold. There are only a few weeks of that perfect crisp coolnees in the air.
If the year was compared to a day, to me, fall would be the sunset. The most beautiful part. But far too short.
I'm getting out of town this weekend. I've been a bit melancholy at times this week. Still missing something. Still recovering. Driving helps. Somehow.
I like the thought of putting miles behind me. Even with no destination in mind.
"I could have been anyone you see. She's nothing but porcelain underneath her skin. American girls, all weather and noise..."
"Fall would be the sunset." Beautiful
ReplyDeleteAnd two perfect sentences:
I like the thought of putting miles behind me. Even with no destination in mind.
Well that sounds like fun, the fair, the candy apple and the getting out of town. Hope you have fun and tell us all about it on Monday!!!
ReplyDelete"If the year was compared to a day, to me, fall would be the sunset. The most beautiful part. But far too short." That is beautiful.
ReplyDeletehappy trails!
Genie: Thanks. Those were my favorite parts, too :-)
ReplyDeleteCarnealian: The candy apple was good. Except I don't remember them being so hard. I dreamed that night that I chipped three of my teeth.
Xinh: That will probably be slightly larger than the fair I attended :) Oh yes, the animals! Always a favorite part of the fair.
Ms. Sizzle: Thanks. When I was typing those lines, I wasn't sure they were clear, or even made sense. Your comment makes me feel better about that.
I know I ask this all the time, but how the hell do you put words together like that?? Seriously. Every damn time I think "wow".
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I am so very jealous that you can do that and I cannot.
I keep leaving anonymous comments...
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I could write better if I were literate or something.
I just found your blog. Just wanted to say hi, tell you I added you to my blogroll and I'll be back again.
ReplyDeleteDriving is amazingly theraputic, isn't it?
I long for those 'falls' where the leaves fall from the trees like colored snow. Where you can walk along, surrounded by leaves suspended in the air.
ReplyDeleteI looove The Zipper!
ReplyDeleteWe're headed to the State Fair tomorrow. I wanted to go tonite because Bowling for Soup was performing... but we didnt' get to go. *teary eyed*
ReplyDeleteAnonymous (aka Heather B): I'm really gonna have to start paying you for leaving multiple comments :)
ReplyDeleteStace: Thanks for stopping by. I wonder what it is about driving.
Lass: Do those really happen? :) Seems like there are about four or five days every year when the leaves just pour off the trees.
Lael: I'm glad someone else has heard of it! :)
Kerry: Have fun. I like Bowling For Soup. "Come back to Texas. It's just not the same since you went away."
I absolute love the fall also, though even here in Oklahoma it's entirely too short.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to our county fair in ages but normally several faculty and staff work the fair handing out pencils, calendars and info. I was talking to GFR about it this year and he mentioned he never got to the midway and he sure missed The Zipper. I said why don't they have The Zipper anymore? He said, "Well after the guy got killed a few years ago........."
Damn, I had totally forgotten that! So our fair doesn't offer The Zipper for a ride anymore..........
I love the food too and this was always the time I purchased cotton candy and funnel cakes. There's just something so fun in seeing regular people milling around with the dregs of society.........And I wasn't even alluding to the carnie workers! HAHAHAHAH
Our fall is too short, too, Bone. As is our spring.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you, though... fall is one of the most beautiful times of year. Spring is pretty, too... though that usually has me stir crazy and anxious for the constant sun.
Hope you find what you're looking for by taking a couple of days away. Miss ya.
You described fall wonderfully. I'm bittersweet towards fall. It is also one of my favorite seasons...the cooler weather, the leaves, the last fall flowers. But I don't like because of the shorter daylight hours and winter is just around the corner. I also have a hard time with fall because it was during this season that my sister was killed by a drunk driver...I think that is where the bitter part of bittersweet kicks in for me in my feelings about fall.
ReplyDeleteoh man i miss the state fair! and one of my best memories involves the zipper! love that ride.
ReplyDeleteand i know what you mean about driving ramdom like that. i use to do that when ever i was feeling bad. nothing like the open road and some great music to soothe the soul.
:) hi! as usual, nice post! I also like fall, the changing colors and falling of the leaves. The very first fall season I had was in Holland in 2001. I like the way you said this:" I like the thought of putting miles behind me.Even with no destination in mind." :) By the way, what is a candy apple? what does it looks like, other than an apple? (giggles!).
ReplyDeleteDo you moonlight as a carnie? ;)
ReplyDeleteHope your weekend trip was a good one. I'm getting out of dodge this weekend, myself. Firing up the grill at my parent's house for one last summer hurrah!
Circe: You definitely get a nice cross-section of people.
ReplyDeleteJust found this on Wikipedia: "On September 7, 1977, the CPSC issued a warning, urging carnival-goers not to ride the Zipper after four deaths occurred when the doors opened and the riders fell out."
Wow! And I thought that was just an urban legend.
Blondie: I'm the same in Spring. And used to end up going to the beach when it was way too cold.
Chickadee: Yeah, it's tough when we only have like ten hours of daylight in the winter.
Lux Lisbon: Definitely. Good music is a must while driving.
Vanillaskies: It's an apple with a hard (and yummy) candy coating, served on a stick.
Carmen: End of Summer weekend shindig at Carmen's parents!!!
I went to the fair Saturday night!
ReplyDeleteSorry about AL losing, but go HOGS!!!
Hope you had a great weekend. I love a road trip; it really helps clear my mind.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of football, what happened this weekend to the fierce elephants? WAR EAGLE, baby!!! #2!!!
ReplyDeleteLil Bootay
useful information blog,very good content.
ReplyDeleteLindsy: Oh yeah. Sorry about OU last week, too.
ReplyDeleteRedNeckGirl: Thanks. Hope you had a good weekend, too.
LilBootay: Only an Auburn fan would cheer "We're #2!"
Xinh: I agree. Something very wrong :)
I don't think I ever got on the Zipper. Everytime it stopped, someone seemed to be vomiting.
Metal: Thanks. Thanks for stopping by.