Yesterday my husband and I decided we were going to the West Alexander Fair. He had never been there and as a kid never really went to any of the fairs. It just wasn't his families thing to do. I had been there once when I was in my teenage years but really didn't remember much about this fair. My niece was showing her steer for the last fair of the year and her final cow of her steer career. She has aged out and this season was her last. Where am I going with this? ....back to my ol' stomping ground, The Washington County Fair. We usually hit the Jacktown fair and the Greene County fair, but usually just for the derby. At my age now, I still try to go to the Washington County Fair each year but usually only to watch my niece in an event. I'm only mentioning this because for some reason it brought back so many memories yesterday. My best friend and I loved going to the fair in middle school or should I say we loved the boys who would be at the fair! I would work all summer so I had the money to buy a weekly pass and afford to eat all week. We spent every day at the fair and it was the highlight of our summer before returning to school. Every morning we would get dressed up in our finest jeans and t-shirts, do our hair up to heaven with or RAVE hair spray and set out for the fair and when I say set out, we walked. My best friend lived about five miles from the fairgrounds and we didn't drive yet. So, shoe leather express was our only means to get there if we wanted to go. Also, neither of our parents were going to miss work to drive us there every day. Rain or shine we would start our voyage. Luckily in August the chances of rain were slim. We would spend all day and all night there. I'm now wondering why, but ofcourse love/lust will make you do crazy things. We would plan our day based on the derby, tractor pulls or music that was scheduled. My favorite artist, in the good ol fair days, was when Joe Diffie performed. To be young again! Watching all your friends and classmates sing John Deere Green, Third Rock From The Sun and Pick Up Man while singing along, cheering and smiling through every verse. I couldn't wait to hear So Help Me Girl and wishing I had someone to share it with. My bestie did most of the time, but sometimes he would play hard to get. He wasn't as smooth as he thought because they're still together to this day! By the end of the day we were so exhausted and looked like rag o' muffins. My bestie's mom would pick us up and we would chatter about our day and giggle all the way home. We also had a crazy ritual, we would get back to the house and eat a bowl of croutons with ranch. (We were teenagers remember!) All night we would talk about the boys until we fell asleep and woke up to start the day over. So, when I smell the hot sausage sandwiches, the greasy fries or pizza around every corner it truly brings back all those memories. Memories of walking through all the games hearing people yelling for you to try their game or bells dinging or sirens whaling to let you know you've won a prize. Watching teenagers in line for the ZIPPER or one of the other rides that we loved. Walking through all the barns to check out everyone's prized livestock and smelling them too. Walking through the buildings to see who was creative enough to bring in their best art, craft or baked goods. Seeing people you haven't seen in years enjoying their time at the fair as well. I'm so glad the traditions continue to live on in our area. I'm also glad to have fun memories of the fair to carry with me through the years. Just another daily dose of T!