The Ingham County Fair had a new meaning for us this year. Ezra took two pigs through the Webberville FFA and we sure learned a lot! We hadn’t been to the fair in a few years. Back in high school the fair meant riding rides for hours and flirting with carnies. Sure I was in 4H and baked a dozen or two cookies, made a tin punch craft and learned how to sew but that was all done before the actual fair. I was always on the midway not in the animal barns. This year I witnessed Toby and Martha being auctioned off by this adorable boy wearing plaid and a big smile. I have never been to a livestock auction before. How mesmerizing and exciting. 

It was really special to see all the young people who worked hard with their animals standing there in the ring smiling. I am hooked. Webberville represented for sure!! Ezra is already making plans for next year. Maybe I should think about staying there for the week – maybe in the “rustic camping” section? Thank you to all involved in the Webberville FFA and 4H. I appreciate the opportunities you provide. Not only have I benefited from them when I was a kid but now my own kids are having life experiences that are priceless.

   We also took the family to ride one night and my kids sure did ride. The boys made their way up and down the midway and stumbled into the Gravitron. I knew that was going to be a big mistake. I stood there watching that space ship thingy spin for what felt like fifteen minutes. I had a flashback to the 90’s where my best friend (Hi Sarah!) and I were inside jamming to Salt N Pepa and someone hurled across from us and the puke just gravitated back on their face. We could ride that thing for hours and always feel fine. Good times. So back to 2011 Abram comes out and is white as a ghost and confused. No he didn’t puke but he was done riding. As we are sitting in the Netterfield picnic area eating our cheese on a stick and corndogs I look over at Abram (who was definitely not eating) and notice one of his lenses is missing from his glasses and his frames are open with one of the screws missing. He had no idea what was going on and sticks his finger where his lens would be and just shrugs. I’m thinking dang it! Must have been the Gravitron! After Abram went home with Joe, who was also done with the fair, I went back to the ride and asked if there was a lens gravitating around. The guy closed down the ride for a good ten minutes while I waited but didn’t find the lens. At the end of the night after we had eaten our share of elephant ears, lemonade, fries, etc, we walked like zombies to the Fuller Express and Oscar says “Here’s Abram’s lens!” He walked around all night with only one lens and no one noticed. Not me, him, or anyone else!

   Summer fun didn’t stop at the fair. Joe and I took the Fuller Express to our first drive in Movie Theater. The New US 23 Drive In Movie Theater is in Flint and provides double features and a killer snack bar. Choose a screen, tune in your radio and you get to watch two movies back to back.   We chose Smurfs and Zookeeper, spent a fortune on popcorn and candy, and got tore up by mosquitoes and most of us slept through the whole second movie! It was a bit of a mistake to go on a Friday when we were all so tired but we still did it. I have a track record of falling asleep in the theaters (my sister has had to nudge me and tell me I was about to start snoring) and it sure didn’t help there were blankets and pillows involved. We were parked near the concessions and bathrooms with the back doors of the van wide open and there we were – sleeping, with a snoring orchestra playing, as strangers and dogs were walking back and forth. Leo did make it through all of Zookeeper but he was the only one. Smurfs was cute. Just today Daisy says “Mom I smurfed!”

   Recently Webberville has witnessed another sad tragedy. Such a strong and happy family now has to heal. We all wish you peace and love. To those still here on earth and those who are no longer with us.

   I’ll leave you with this vision – round hay bales. Is there not a prettier sight than round hay bales placed all over a hilly field? I just want to stop and take a moment to enjoy their beauty. Not only their color against the ground and sky but also the hard work of farmers. What a sight.