Just got off the phone w/ Dad. He's thinking about going to the Butler County Fair tomorrow; the same fair where he and Mom had their first date in 1947. They continued to go the fair for many, many years after that, both w/ and w/o us kids. That fair is where I learned to count-back change by working at the Amvets' food stand located right underneath the Grand Stand. This was a family event b/c Dad was a member of the Amvets that usually started our day at the fair. The only other memory I have of that fair is seeing one of those freak shows where the barker lures you in to see some weird phenomenon of nature. I think this one was something like "The Snake Man." I walked up the entrance ramp of the carnival wagon w/ my friends, all of us giggling and a little wary of what we'd see. Once we were gathered inside, a curtain opened behind a glass-encased window revealing the filthiest man I'd ever seen. There were snakes all around and all over him. It was one of those situations where you're so disgusted that you can't take your eyes off it. We stopped giggling and stared until the curtain closed and we fled, looking over our shoulders expecting him to be chasing us w/ one of those snakes.
I don't think they have these kinds of freak shows anymore, at least I hope they don't. Even if they did, Dad wouldn't check it out. He's going to grab a burger, probably from the Amvets' stand and walk through the animal barns. I'm not sure if he and Mom ever rode any of the rides on the Midway. Dad doesn't like heights, but I think they went on the Ferris wheel to impress Mom. I've seen pictures of them at the fair, so young and eager w/ their whole lives ahead of them. I'm really proud of Dad for going back to a place that obviously holds so many memories of Mom. I'm not sure I could.
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