I have been to the Fairgrounds in OKC on numerous occasions the last thirty years.  I have gone to fishin’ tackle shows, car shows, ball games, computer sales, and tennis shoe sales . . ..  I got the timing right last week and made it there when the fair was in session, I think the last time I did that was in the very early 80s.  Sharyl wasn’t a big fan of the fair and I could take it or leave it, so we just kind of quit going.  I probably owe the girls an apology for that too.

I’ll get back to the fair in a second.  I just heard David Letterman say: “I’m not as smart as I ought to be for as much talking as I do.”  If we change “talking to “writing” I believe that would apply to me.

As a wide-eyed 7^th grader I rode the big yellow bus to my first state fair in ’54; it was also the first year the fair was held at the present location.  We arrived early and stayed late, I don’t remember but I am sure the entire day cost me less than twenty bucks.  This year I stayed about 3 or 4 hours and spent $18 for a corndog, lemonade and a cinnamon roll, if I would have gotten pecans for the roll it would have taken the entire twenty.

For the next 15 or 20 years I usually fit a trip to the fair into my schedule.  Those visits became more expensive and without going into detail they also became more exciting.  Just a couple examples; one year I lost a day’s wages trying to win a three dollar teddy bear for my date.  Another time I lost my lunch trying to impress my date by riding the Roto Zip or whatever they called it three consecutive times.  I think the date on both occasions was Sharyl, those of you who knew her know how impressed the always-sensible Sharyl was.

People watching has always been one of my hobbies.  There is no better place than a fair to watch the folks; there is an endless supply of all types.  This year I was there early in the day and I think the ratio of “real interesting” to “somewhat normal” increases proportionally as the day progresses.  That doesn’t mean I didn’t see some of those kind.  I overheard what appeared to be the head of household of one of those groups say:  “We better get going, we have to go put on some decent clothes so we can go to Wal Mart.”

If my memory is correct (no comments please) 30 years ago deep-fried food was pretty much limited to corn dogs and funnel cakes.  I won’t attempt to compile a list of the fried stuff they have now; I think somewhere they sell fried sweat sox on a stick and there is probably a line.  The slogan should and may be “Fry it and They Will Come.”

I only ate the previously mentioned corn dog and roll.  Some of that other stuff looked pretty good but my consumption of fried foods the past few months has been almost zilch.  I didn’t want to risk losing my lunch just walking by the Roto Zip so I didn’t try the fried cheesecake, mashed potatoes or Twinkies.

I bought a wallet from a lady from Wisconsin and a couple signs from some people from somewhere.  I also bought an Aussie hat from a lady from our 50^th state; I may see if it will keep the midnight sun out of my eyes up in our 49^th state.

I went the day after senior citizens day; the admission was higher but all those elderly people didn’t surround me.

I took some pics with my phone, you guessed right I am going to share a few of them.

Last time I was there I rode this.

Ever wondered what made a fountain work? Just add water

I remember when this was a busy place.

Not even noon, a line for fried mashed potatoes.

I think they were left over from senior day. Out of focus but i had to be quick

I think these guys were here in ’54

The pic says it all

It was early

The Hat

Still around

I will probably go again next year; I will probably go later in the day or maybe even on the weekend.  People watching is better.

Please say a prayer for me and consider a donation to the cancer research organization of you r choice.

Good Night and God Bless.

Dave

I watch some TV news but my primary source is my IPAD or phone.  The picture is a screen shot of the banner from one of my regular sources.

About the only difference in the two headlines, one of them contains the word elderly.  The other headline nor article mentioned the victim’s age, leaving me to assume he or she wasn’t elderly.  The victim they identified as elderly is younger than me and it didn’t appear as if his age contributed to the accident.  I wondered why elderly was used in the headline.

I always thought elderly was an opinion, a condition or someone at least fifteen years older than me.  I checked my source.  Merriam-Webster says elderly starts at 64; I’ve been elderly for a while and didn’t even know it.  I don’t know if Mr. Webster thought 64 was a good age to be considered elderly or if it was Mr. Merriam’s idea.  Maybe it was hashed out in a conference room, I know I have spent a few days in conference rooms trying to agree on things of similar importance.

In today’s politically correct world maybe if the headline had said senior citizen instead of elderly I wouldn’t have written this post.

A few years ago I saw a church with parking spaces reserved “for the elderly”.  Those spaces were always empty, 85 year-old ladies would rather walk three blocks than to park in a space reserved for the elderly.  If those signs had said reserved “for senior citizens” there would have been a line wanting to know “how old do I have to be to get one of those parking places?”

I think these “elderly” wheels are starting to spin again, all the gears probably aren’t meshing but that has always been a problem.  I spent some time at the fair today.  If those thoughts come together I will try to share some of them.

I hope your day was good.  Please mention me in your prayers.

Good Night and God Bless.

Dave

I’ve been gone a while; 2 weeks ago today I sat on the back porch here at the lake, yes I’m back, and wrote a goofy little thing about having a second or third cup of coffee.  After that the wheels just quit spinning and for the first time since I have been doing this Random Thoughts thing I had no idea what my next post would talk about or if there would even be a next post.

If I were a real writer I think it would be called writer’s block, since I am just an old blogger maybe vapor lock would be more descriptive.  After we read this we may still not know what the next one is about but at least we know there is another one.

The last two weeks have been kind of slow and quiet, in fact last week was one of those kind that usually results in one of those “from the heart” in depth analysis kind of post.  Honestly I considered it and I will probably still do one of those from time to time but not just because I had a little bit of a bad week.  We all have bad weeks and if things get a little too quiet and lonely at home maybe I need to get out and make a little noise; don’t read too much into that.  I’m not talking about the kind of noise I made 40 or 50 years ago; something between that and sitting at home pounding on a keyboard.

For the record I know I have a writing habit and have no plans to quit.  Maybe that will give me the incentive to get off my butt and go find some interesting things to do just so I can share them with you and I won’t have to quit writing.

I’m not sure what that was all about but I think I feel better.  Keep me in your prayers and consider a donation to the cancer research organization of your choice.

Good Night and God Bless.

Dave