Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The Fair is Over by Leslie Winchell

The fair is over. As usual I had a fun time—lots of laughs, but my body is tired. Our fair is the 6th largest in the US so it needs many worker bees. Many workers are like me, retired from a good paying job, but willing to do this for a few weeks.
We say “we have the fair in our blood.” There is something fun about coming to the fair in the morning (I worked the opening to 4:30 pm each day)—the animals were always having their baths and us vendors were getting our booths ready for another busy day. I have gotten to know all the vendors around me. This Saturday was our only rainy day— the vendor next to me really had some flood issues so I helped him with soaked boxes etc—he would have done the same for me!!!
I feel very fortunate about my job. Many people have to stand all day so their feet get very tired and sore. I can sit in my booth, but with that said my knees are sore. I am not a sitter at home. We have a friend who is a knee doctor who always tells us that people that need knee surgery usually are sitters— not me! I was always glad to get my lunch break so I could go on a long walk. I can walk around my booth which is a small trailer, but it is defiantly not exercise! My stomach is very tired of cold lunches--I do not eat the unhealthy fair food, but really miss the lunches at home where I make homemade soups or salads. My ears are very tired of hearing Native American flute music which was played all day long by a vendor very near us! The music is lovely, but not all day. Actually the noise of the fair I find gets extremely tiring; I have always
been person who likes quiet.
Why do I work at this fair--well its fun. I like people. Most people at the fair are fun--I cannot tell you how many laughs I have had these past few weeks. I like the family I work for; they are hard working, but kind people. I love all the animals; I think cows are very pretty. I love the children who see all this in such wonderment.
Yes, I am a tired woman, but tired is good. The retired people who work the fair are healthy happy people who enjoy being around people. We are the seniors who are aging well, because we are willing and even like getting tired; and my guess is we will all be there next September!

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