Today marks the finality of parking at Mom & Dads during the Fair.

This time next year, we won’t be here. The house will be sold and hopefully the new owners will love the fair as much as we did. I inquired of Bart’s annual rates, (the neighbor two doors down Simpson St.) and we’ll see if it’s in the budget. I might need to take the bus, but I would certainly miss seeing all the neighbors and catching up. There is profound sadness in this.

Today, being Labor Day, we usually grab a hot dog of some variety and head straight to the Midway. The kid, nor I, or Randy had any need to go there. Randy is in pain with his knees & ankles, I don’t possess the skills to win at any games and Gray is too tall for most of the rides….

Today we would eat and shop. Randy picked up the scooter and got a foot long hotdog, as I waited in the long, long line for coffee. I posted about it on Facebook and my friend Paula recommended checking out her friends behind the Merchandise Mart at the Coffee Queens. Note for next year!

Finally!

The kid wanted an Italian bread product of some sort so as we walked, I grabbed my last blueberry pie! Next year, Sara & I are going to spend one whole crazy day together!

She’s curious what I do! I don’t buy the pie at grocery store, despite the fact that I ~can~… most days I don’t have the 25K steps to offset pie consumption! I think it would be less special too.

We found the Luigi Fries stand, always delicious, garlicky, cheesy breadsticks with marinara.

I was shocked when Randy cruised last the Poncho Dog stand! Maybe one per year is enough!

There wasn’t anything left I wanted to buy, I thought, but Randy wanted to check out the shirt warehouse guy upstairs in the grandstand. I truly had had my fill of the grandstand this year, the one building I went into about eight times!

He & Gray made their way up the ramp, and I waited at the DNR.

Smokey the Bear was hanging out, but I was alone so didn’t pose ~with~ him. I walked back by the fish ponds and there was a group from Wildlife Forever in the courtyard outside.

It took me a minute to realize this guy was not stuffed!

And that this guy could eat him for lunch, or vice-versa!

The bird of prey showman that my cousin Thanes wife Janelle is related to was on the outdoor stage, but no time to stay and watch as the kid texted quickly to say they we’re looking for me. That was fast! It turned out they didn’t find the booth. It wasn’t in its usual spot with all the new vendors this year, too bad I didn’t accompany them….I knew my way around the grandstand pretty well on day twelve!

We wandered over to the West End to see what food or commodities we might need. Hot waffles were a favorite food (and steeped with Mom memories) so I wanted to get one on this final day.

Walking back there, I stopped and bought this years Minnesota State Fair ornament.

And made the youth pose with lions & wolves & bears! Oh my!

The hot waffles, as always are delicious, this year they were back to the nice thick square waffles. Last year it’s possible they ran out and substituted round Eggo Waffles! My only issue with this food is the powdered sugar cloud you end wearing when you’re done. I thought of Dad in that moment, and how he always wished he had a white “powdered sugar” colored suit to wear to Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans.

The day was heating up…again, and storm clouds were rolling in. I saw a guy walk by with the cutest garden decor and I remembered, way back in a May I made a list of things to get at the Fair. A sign for the Oasis, with the house rules on it and a pig! I had looked briefly for a sign earlier in the Fair, but I needed to decide the wording, so I’m waiting until next year when the new Oasis is constructed. I did still want a pig however!

Today was a Labor Day special with 20% off! I love my pig!

My puppy Lola does not…

We still had to get the kid to St. Olaf to begin their Senior a Year of college! Randy wasn’t up for the parade and I thought I’d return later.

Randy returned the scooter and we headed back to Mom’s one last time. I got a stamp on the way out, just in case.

Back at Mom’s I knew I had stuff I’d left in the kitchen, but I was too sad to go in on this last State Fair Day. I really did think I might be back yet today, but I was also avoiding the finality of my #12harddays

There has been a suspension of reality and the work we must do, in order to wrap up and close the literal doors on two lives lived well and abundantly in this house for the last 42 years.

Instead of looking back, we went home and looked forward, driving the kid to college, for their SENIOR YEAR! I dropped them off in the pouring rain, and this process is so “old hat” I didn’t even get a picture! Driving back to the city, decided I was done with the fair this year.

Turns out, with five record setting attendance days, and enough crowds all the others we crushed the Two Million mark. There is a big expansion plan for the north west end of the Fair this year, we’ll see if they are successful spreading out the growing crowds every year!

As hard as this Fair has been, I spent each day with family & friends; remembering & reminiscing, laughing & crying, healing & mourning and I’m grateful for everyone who walked with me on this journey.

Mom & Dad wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

I thank you.