Puyallup, WA, a favorite of my kids
growing up. My oldest, a high functioning autistic man, lives in Seattle. “Doing
the Puyallup” is something he looks forward all year.
Two days ago he got
himself there on public transportation, once again.
When my two youngest were young teeners,
they treasured “wrist band” day when they could ride nearly all rides all
afternoon/evening as much as they wanted. I would take that day off. My one
rule was they had to meet me at a designated spot every hour. They would each
get $20 for snacks.
While they hit the rides, I would hit the
food stands and exhibits. A hamburger covered with Walla Walla sweet onions was
first on the list.
As a car salesman I loathed car shows and
fairs. Very hard to sell anything there and the dealership damn well wasn’t
paying for my time. The conversation with management usually went like this.
“Tank,
here is your floor times at the Puyallup”.
“Fuck
that, I’m not going. You want someone there to glad hand the
public?
Hire some hard bellied young women”.
After the ensuing shit storm ended, I
usually agreed to pull one, and only one, shift and not on the weekend.
One year there was a bungee jump from a
very tall crane. Some of the salesmen who truly disliked me (never understood
why – I’m such a nice guy) made the mistake of baiting me about going on the
bungee jump. Ah, a chance to make some money! After hustling them for awhile
and getting the cash into a reliable third party’s hand, I did it. No big deal
to me but I wouldn’t pay my own money to do it.
I usually try to take in one county fair
each year and prefer the smaller ones. The 4-H and FFA kids work so hard and I
can appreciate their efforts. Always in the back of my mind is my mother
getting a Union Pacific scholarship to attend the University of Wyoming from
sheep she raised. No snowflakes at these shows.
8 comments:
The family across the road from the in-laws 'ranch' off Owl Canyon raise pigs, sheep, and goats for 4H. We've met them several times, and they had the kids parade the animals for us. I had a lot of 4H and FFA friends growing up, but I had no idea these organizations provide such a depth of training to the kids!
*EVERYTHING* they need to know to run a successful farm or ranch is available, FOR FREE from 4H and FFA.
You can't beat that with a stick......
And while the elite may turn up their noses over such "quaint" and "archaic" organizations, these fine folks calmly go about the business of training the next generation, and instilling knowledge, tradition, and ethics.
I get such a joyous feeling going to the fairs and other events out here seeing young people and their families enjoying and continuing these traditions.
And we even got to see the outgoing Larimer County Rodeo Queen when we were at the fair!
Can't explain it, but stuff like this just makes me smile.....
I always avoided the midway in events like that but I did like the bumper cars.
drjim
A valuable way of life.
LL
And miss flirting with the females?
Good memories. 4-H shows, the fun on the midway, and eating crap that your mother would NEVER have let you eat otherwise... LOL
Old NFO
Some years I let them bring friends. When we left they would all be asleep in ten minutes.
Funny, when I was a kid, I thought 'fair' meant rides.
As an adult, I like the 4-H animals and quilt exhibits much more.
When I took the kids from work this summer, they wanted rides but we're not allowed to take them on rides due to insurance regulations. They did enjoy the animal exhibits and the ice cream, though. :)
Ami
My oldest likes the exhibits. The two younger were all about the rides.
I admire your ability to take large groups of kids on an adventure. Me? I would rather herd cats.
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