For the lovers of hot and humid weather, you have had your share of it this summer. In fact, much of the Shawano County Fair was held in that climate, along with some rain showers.
This was not a year that I was able to spend quality time at the fair, due to the foot surgery I had in June. The surgery seems so long ago; however, any surgery on a foot seems to take a long time to recover from. The foot is just there, on the low end of our body, not getting a lot of circulation. Even though I can now get a shoe on, it is only for part of the day, then I go back in the boot.
On Wednesday, I got my seven photography exhibits to the fair in the late morning. I didn’t feel up to going to watch the judging that took place on Thursday. I also didn’t go and volunteer in the crops and soils area where the 4-H and FFA judging was taking place, like I usually do on Friday.
On Saturday, I had two guests arrive at my home for the weekend. That afternoon there was a cookout at my nephew’s house. And on Sunday, beginning at noon, was the Lehman family reunion. On both Saturday and Sunday nights, my guests and I battled out a few games of rummy.
When Monday arrived, my guests left, one by one, and I had a decision to make. Will I go to the fair on Labor Day, so I can at least get a taste of the fair and pick up my exhibits, or will I sit home and twiddle my thumbs?
Faced with those two perspectives, I decided to go to the fair. After all, even though I was not up to walking the midway, or even most of the exhibit buildings, I wanted to go, and I had a disabled parking sign to park as close as possible.
I arrived about 3 p.m. and the only open disabled parking spot was about as far away as possible to be. I was not to be discouraged however. Instead, I walked slowly, with my cane, trying to avoid the mud puddles.
I went to the area where open class photography was displayed and found all of my pictures. All received third place, except for two first-place ribbons; one of which also received an honorable mention for best of show.
Next I went to the crops and soils area to look at the produce and also the Historical Society display. One of the great things in this building is that I knew that I would see a lot of my friends. Since it has multiple exits, people tend to walk through there. This is the building where I usually stay while waiting for my exhibits to be ready to go at 6.
Part of the time there is to visit with the fair-goers, and also to watch over the exhibits so they are not removed prior to 6, as that is the state rule. The animals can go at 4, but all other exhibits must stay until 6.
When the appointed time arrived, I went to where my exhibits were, picked them up, placed them in a plastic bag and went slowly back to my van.
Another fair has come and gone, but as I drove away, I couldn’t help but pray that, by next year’s fair, I would be walking with a brand new bounce in my step.
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