The continuing fair adventures of the Sandusky family as they tackle rides, large crowds, long lines, and a group of active and adventurous children.
I know the kids are clamoring for me to ride the rides, but with my back being the way it is, and the nagging, ever-present sciatic pain running down both my legs, I don't want to chance it. So I decline, and Bill does too (although he DOES go on the merry-go-round and on the ferris wheel).
After Bill has his spin on the ferris wheel and merry-go-round, we then take the kids to the restroom (Jodie is starting to smell pretty ripe by now, and she is sitting in her wheelchair, looking rather proud of herself), and we then freshen up our mussed-up hair and wash our dirty faces and then towel-dry them. I then redo Jodie's hair and change her soiled diaper and have Ronee' take her inhaler; she is wheezing a bit (but it is nothing to get alarmed about). We then straighten up our clothes, get our gear, and then head on back out to the midway.
The fair is very crowded today; and I think it is partly due to the concert later on. Alan Jackson, one of country music's current and brightest stars, is scheduled to perform, and we want to make sure we get all of our walking or riding rides in before we head on to the grandstand to see the show. I see many people, young and old, wearing Alan Jackson shirts. They're probably going to go to the concert, too.
On one of our walks through the fairgrounds, we pass by a kariaoke stage that has been set up; and right away, Ronee' gets that tell-tale gleam in her eyes that tell us that she wants to get up and sing. We tell her we don't want to be late for Alan Jackson's show, but she wants to sing anyway; and from the way she is begging, we can't help but let her do so. Shortly thereafter, anyone who wants to sing goes to the kariaoke d.j., who has the sound system set up, and they pore through books that have lists of songs according to musical styles. Then they sign up and wait for their turn (but Ronee' then does her vocal warmups, as she does every time she sings).
When Ronee' has her songs chosen (she is going to sing "Coal Miner's Daughter" and "You Ain't Woman Enough [To Take My Man]" by Loretta Lynn, her favorite singer), she, along with the other contestants, waits to go onstage. When her name is announced at last, she goes to the mic, and proceeds to do a killer job at imitating Loretta Lynn, much to the surprise (and delight) of the crowd, who burst into applause.
After her second song, the kariaoke d.j. asks Ronee' her age and her name; and he said that he wants her to sing again; but she says she can't, as she is going to see the Alan Jackson concert. He really liked her. Ronee' did do a great job, but she came to the fair mainly to ride the rides and to see Alan Jackson in concert, not to sing.
About five, we get something to eat, and then we head for the grandstand, which is already starting to fill with people. The kids are all excited about the forthcoming concert, and Gemini is babbling about what a "hottie" Alan Jackson is (much to Bill's chagrin; he hates it when kids talk like mini-teenagers or adults). Johnny is whining now because he says he wanted to sing a Collin Raye song at the kariaoke place; but he was too chicken to do it, so he backed out. Maybe another day when we come back to the fair, Bill tells him. Johnny is mad; he sits back in his wheelchair, an ugly scowl on his face. He hates it when his sister gets all the glory when she is on stage; and he wishes he could have sang, too. Maybe he would have gotten as much applause as his sister...
About a half hour prior to the show, we see members of Alan Jackson's band, "The Strayhorns", warming up on stage, and the crowd goes wild; but the really insane applause and cheers will erupt when Alan Jackson first appears on stage. We are in the front row, off to the side, but we still have a great view of the stage.
At seven, right on the dot, Alan Jackson appears on stage, and the crowd (including us) goes wild; the noise is absolutely deafening, which causes Johnny to start crying because his ears hurt from the squealing of his hearing aids. He turns them off and signs angrily that he won't be able to hear Alan Jackson sing. He is really mad.
Alan sings for an hour and a half, and during the show, he banters with the audience and sings his greatest hits; but the song that generates the loudest applause is his 9-11 tribute, "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)". That is how he ends his shows; and soon, the audience is on their feet before the end of the song. Alan is momentarily overcome at the generosity of the love from the fans; but he continues to sing, and soon, before we know it, the show is over, much to the disappointment of the fans, who still want to hear him sing. But then he says he will sign autographs at his bus, and anyone who wants one is welcome to an autograph or a picture if they so desire.
We go to where Alan is, and we get our autographs, and we have our picture made with him. Johnny is sound asleep (as is Jodie), but Gemini, Michael, Ronee', Anh, Barbara, and Stephanie are as wired as they were when they first came to the fair; they are too keyed up to sleep. Alan greets each of them with a warm hug and a howdy; and he gladly signs their shirts or autograph books. He then poses with them as Bill takes their pictures. Johnny and Jodie get in on the fun too, but they are oblivious: they are both still sound asleep, but Johnny does have a slight smile on his face. Maybe he did hear some of the music, and it made him happy. He looks relaxed and adorable, and as much as we would love to wake him, so he can see Alan, we desist and we let him sleep. He is plumb tuckered out; he has had a very long day (as has all of us).
It is late. It is about nine thirty now; it is dark, but the fairgrounds and midway are still ablaze and alive with frenzied activity. We are all tired, and we then pick our way through the thickening crowds on the midway, and we make our way back to our van, where we will then drive back to our house once we get everyone loaded and buckled into the van. It was a fun and exciting day at the fair, and we are going to do this all over again next weekend (Saturday, a week from today), as Loretta Lynn is scheduled to appear. So our fair adventures may be over for now, but they are not finished.
But in the meantime, for now, we have had more than enough excitement, and we have only one thing on our minds: getting back to our safe, secure house and into our warm and comfortable beds, where we can then sleep off the fair-induced excitement.
Let this coming of age story of a boy named Bean take you back to a simple time. Set in a small southern town in the 1960's, encircled by a river and gleaming white cotton fields.
Let this coming of age story of a boy named Bean take you back to a simple time. Set in a small southern town in the 1960's, encircled by a river and gleaming white cotton fields.
I know the kids are clamoring for me to ride the rides, but with my back being the way it is, and the nagging, ever-present sciatic pain running down both my legs, I don't want to chance it. So I decline, and Bill does too (although he DOES go on the merry-go-round and on the ferris wheel).
