The one constant memory I have from every summer growing up is going to the West Virginia State Fair. The excitement would become palpable as the first day of the fair drew closer.
My Dad would distract me with stories of the fair from when he was growing up. He told me about a time he and a relative decided they were full grown and would go to the hoochy coochy show. I don’t think Dad was too sure what that was, but he went along with his cousin.
They got cigars and sat in the back. Dad said it wasn’t long until women in what looked like bathing suits came out. They all had roses. Dad and his cousin noticed it was getting rowdy. Eventually, the women threw the roses into the crowd, and a fight broke out. My Dad and his cousin ducked under the tent and ran. I don’t think Dad ever tried out a sideshow like that again.
Going to the fair was a whole different experience back in the day. There wasn’t any paving, so any time it rained, everything turned muddy. One year, a horrible downpour covered the fairgrounds. People kept walking right out of their shoes that became stuck in the mud. Talk about a mess!
I never could leave the fair without riding the carousel or getting cotton candy and a candy apple. Those were my favorite things for many years. I remember eating the candy coating off the apple but not wanting the actual apple. Mom wasn’t too happy until she tasted it and realized how sour the apple was.
Our family tradition was to sing this little song on the way to the fair every year. I don’t know where my Dad first heard it, but it was always our fair song. It went something like this, “Well, we went to the animal fair, and the birds and the bees were there. And the old baboon by the light of the moon was combing his auburn hair”.
That’s how I always knew we were definitely on the way to the fabulous fair. It was always so thrilling to me. And still is.
Now this year, my kids and I will carry on the tradition. We will sing the song as we head to the State Fair of West Virginia. Preparing for the next generation of making memories.
