Meet Me At The Fair!

$60.00 for four adult tickets
$10.00 for one child's ticket
$15.00 for gated parking
$30.00 for 60 coupons
One cold, wet ride on the famous State Fair of Texas Ferris Wheel:  Priceless.

No wait.....IT WAS $115!!

We made the visit to Texas when we did because 1) It was David's birthday.  2) Evan had two days off school. 3) It was during the Fair and David and Evan wanted to experience the Great State Fair of Texas!  I hadn't been in years and after all the little fairs in New England, I wanted them to see it Texas size: complete with Big Tex's "Howdy Folks!", corny dogs,  fried pecan pies and new this year: fried butter.  Yum-o! I wanted them to see the backyard circus, the rodeo-style livestock shows and the car exhibit that rivals cities like Chicago and New York.  I couldn't wait to show off Mom's prize winning boot and see Marsha's award-winning tea ball ornament in the Arts Building.  I couldn't wait to feel SO TEXAS and proudly show off the best my state has to offer!  I had an 11x17 glossy map complete with parade route and preferred parking gate.  I had a printout with all the FAQs and facts about the greatness of the Fair. I knew where we should hit and in what order to keep the momentum for Evan, and still get the most fried food for David. I had read everyone's blog about their trips and seen all the Facebook photos.....I couldn't wait for my turn.  David and Evan and I had been talking about it for weeks! 

The plan all along was to go on Monday morning. Saturday was the BBQ.  Sunday was church and football. Monday was wide open for the day. We had been warned that Oprah was planning on taping there on Monday....it was Columbus Day and Fair Day (when all the Texas school children get a free ticket and a day off to go to the great State Fair of Texas).  But the plan was to get there when the gates opened and run for the ferris wheel, much like we used to do as kids when we went to Six Flags.  David isn't much for standing in line and I didn't want Evan to get bored and start asking to go home too early. We'd start with the ride and go from there.  Again.....I had it all planned out. 

But as the time got closer it was becoming more and more apparent that the weather was not going to cooperate. It was cloudy and drizzly most of the time.  Monday was going to be the worst day for rain....the weather men put the  clouds next to Sunday and the thunderbolts next to Monday.  We debated when to go and whether or not to skip it altogether.  Mom had already bought the tickets.  (I only later realized that she could have returned them.)   So, while we watched the Cowboy game, we determined that it was not going to rain....it hadn't all day....and that we should go when the game ended.  It wasn't going to be sunny and bright - that was a given.  It was the afternoon now, but if the line for the ferris wheel was too long, then we'd skip it and concentrate on everything else the Fair had to offer.  It was just one ride afterall. 

So, after the near loss in overtime, we piled in the car and headed out.  Big smiles as we walked in.  We were finally going to the Fair!!

First order of business, North America's largest ferris wheel. (212 feet)  We asked Evan and that's what he wanted to do. (Of course, because we'd been talking about it for weeks now!)  We made our way through to the Midway.  We stopped and got some tickets.  I think David got 40 or so.  As we were looking for the back of the ferris wheel line, we saw a giant crowd, with security on the ground and on horseback, and a helicopter hovering overhead.  What in the world was going on?  Had there been an accident?  We wandered over like everyone else. From the talk in the crowd we surmised that Oprah was here and playing carnival games.  David saw her in her cowboy hat playing and tried to get photos (as he was the tallest) but after several shots, he couldn't get a g0od one of her. He was too far back in the crowd.  So, we were there, but didn't get a good view of her playing the games......wonder if they let Oprah win....can't wait to see the taped show! 

As it turned out, the line for the ferris wheel was very close to the Oprah Takes The State Fair spectacle so the line was not all that long.  Dad went back for more tickets (as it's $6 a person now to ride).  He came back with 20 more coupons.  The line was moving pretty fast. We were commenting on how nicely it was moving.  We almost saw Oprah....we were at the Fair....what a great time! Alll smiles.....Then it started to drizzle.  We  were under tents though - not to worry.  We had expected a little moisture.  As we weaved in and through the line like cattle, the rain started to fall through the opening in the tent.  It blew in from the sides.  We opened our umbrellas.....okay, we were dry now.  Not to worry!  Just a sprinkle I told myself.

What happened next was not a monsoon..... no torrential rain...and there was not a Texas-sized downpour. But it was raining steady and it was cold with the wind blowing.  Our clothes and hair were getting damp.  Not quite the ride we had all hoped for. The wait conversation was more like "You're dripping on me!"....."Wait, I'm not under the umbrella."...."Watch out don't hit anyone with that thing"...."Whose idea was this anyway?"  The only saving grace was the line was continuing to move.  We watched as they closed the gate - not allowing anyone else to enter the line.  We tried to joke about facing death...lightening bolt to the metal ferris wheel car. We'd surely make the 10:00 news.  Before we knew it, we were ready to get on.  The wind blowing...harder the higher up we went and colder too! Mom and David were trying to keep it light and fun for Evan.  Were getting wetter by the minute.  OUr clothes were really damp now. Evan was a trooper.  He kept moving and even looked excited to be on the ferris wheel - dry or wet.  I would nudge David and we'd look over. His eyes were big as saucers as he looked down.



Here we are on the ride....trying to keep happy faces. This is actually a deceiving photo. You can't tell just how wet we all are: 

.

 After the ride was over it was really coming down.  We decided to go home....it didn't look like it was letting up and to get to an inside exhibit would have been quite a walk - and very crowded.  Evan was soaked through.  So, we walked back to the car.  I was busy working to hold back tears of frustration and disappointment.  It wasn't the day at the fair I had been dreaming of......maybe next year!  I think Mom is going tonight......Have a corny dog for me!! ;)   Hopefully, we can meet at the fair next year - maybe in September this time!