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Laclede County Fair 2007

I can remember how much I enjoyed going to the fair when I was a little girl, but for the life of me I can't remember where it was held, over by Nelson Park somewhere, maybe? Or was it somewhere else before it was over there?

I loved the carnival part, doing a few of the rides, and eating cotton candy. Back then I didn't think I could get enough of it. Come to think of it, I still could eat more than was good for me....making me hungry.

Then I think it was 1958 when I got a look at the livestock barn, firsthand. I wasn't raised a "country girl", didn't have any 4H training, but that year I was madly in love with Jim Ragland (don't tell Milan) and Jimmy was showing cattle, and Joyce Jennings and I walked over to the fairgrounds, wherever they were, and I was able to spend some time with Jimmy while he washed and groomed his cows. Now that's true love if I ever saw it.

I always enjoyed going inside and looking at the exhibits. So many pretty things, especially that fresh garden produce.

Then I remember when Mila Jo was about 11 or 12, we enrolled her in the talent contest, and she won first place playing the piano. So.........we enrolled her the next year and she did a marvelous job and we thought surely she would win again, but she didn't make it because they took off points because the JUDGE DIDN'T LIKE HER SHOES....DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE APPROPRIATE FOR PLAYING THE PIANO!!!!

I still remember it, they were little red flats matching her dress. What did that have to do with the price of tea in China? I stalked out "madder than an old wet settin' hen" and rightly so, I might add.

As a New York Life agent in the late 80s I spent a great deal of time manning my table, passing out little goodies, and getting leads on new insurance prospects for the coming year. Still lovin' that fair food - remember eating a lot of greasy curly fries that week. Nothin' as good as greasy french fries (and I'm not being sarcastic), McDonalds taste like plastic compared to fair fries, and those fantastic fries Vern served in his little cafe - oh man, will they ever make anything like that again.

But I digress.

Back to the fair, to which we don't go any more, haven't been in years. They want too much money, and you have to park way too far away for an elderly handicapped woman to walk. It just isn't worth it.

But we only miss seeing it...... we hear it every moment of the day, 24/7 all week long, since we live just one block north of the Civic Center etc. I can tell you who wins the tractor pulls before the person in the back row of the stands knows!

But my memories are pleasant of the long-ago days at the fair, and I suppose there will be little kids out there making memories next week......... and star struck teenagers, as well.

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