Fair Mom

by Michele Boy | July 13, 2023

It’s county fair time! 
I can’t believe it’s here. I am not ready. Is anyone? 
If you see any fair mom, give her some grace. She is tired, frustrated, excited, hopeful, and something around her isn’t clean. 
For this fair mom, several things aren’t clean. 
  It has been at least 20 years of county fairs that I have been involved in.
Some years have been having fun, volunteering, and not having a care in the world. Then as the mom of a peewee 4-Her, I was grateful to the many livestock kids that would hold my daughter’s hand and lead her safely through the ring. 
 Now as a show mom and 4-H community leader, I am looking back fascinated as my role has transitioned and continues to change. 
  I sometimes miss the young outsider, without a care in the world.She was a kid that just took demo derby tickets, served tea and lemonade, and played mud volleyball.
  Today, I would probably hurt my back if I tried to play mud volleyball now.
 Today, the work is harder, more involved, but the rewards are deeper.
 My husband and I were discussing the conditions of farming in Hamilton County right now.
The wheat isn’t harvested, many fields are so wet, you can’t get a truck out.   
  I said isn’t this short term loss a long term gain.  He explained how the fall crops recently planted have shallow roots because getting water had been easy. Essentially they are lazy. When that water dries up, even if there is plenty of water below it, the plants could struggle because their roots haven’t grown deep. 
They had it too easy. 
That struck me. 
Are we digging deep enough? 
Maturing, which I admit I am not very good at, means letting go of the old to embrace the new. 
Chapters of life have closed but that means new ones are opening. 
 As I look back on 20 years of county fairs, I smile at the memories. 
 And I am still entering some photography though I don’t get to take as many photos as I like. 
 The song,  A Woman Like You by Lee Brice comes to mind, 
She said, “Honey, what would you do
If you’d have never met me”
… I’d do a lot more offshore fishin’
I’d probably eat more drive-thru chicken
Take a few strokes off my golf game
If I’d have never known your name
Well, I’d be lookin’ for a woman like you.”
 What is my point? We can look back on the past with would of, should of, and regrets, or we can celebrate that chapter of our life happened. Maybe it was a great chapter, maybe you wish you could go back. Or maybe it was so painful you only see regret. 
 And maybe you are exactly where you are supposed to be. I hope you find some joy, some challenge, some goal to achieve. 
For the next week, I am choosing to enjoy right where I am, little aches and pains, hard work, messy fair hair, and how I didn’t take the easy route.