My daughter is a wonder.
I arrived at the fair on a thick and sticky evening. The fading light clung to us, as did the sweet smell of fried food. I was late.
My wife and daughter had already spent the better part of the day at the fair enjoying the sights and sounds and smells; my task was to find them in the midst of this Great Minnesota Get Together. I found them west of the Education Building, in the Kidway. One must understand the nature of the Kidway — it is a miniature version of the Midway with all of the colour and intrigue and toothless Carnies.
Grace devoured it; she flitted from attraction to attraction with nary a care for her mother or me. She was curious about these mechanical curiosities — just as she was with the John Deere equipment displayed on Machinery Hill. She was curious about it all: the people, food, and folly. The fair was an enormous, technicolor, undulating dream — she was its avatar. Instead of a sword she carried an ear of corn. Instead of a crown she wore a pink paper hat in the shape of pig’s ears. She thoroughly enjoyed the day and I enjoyed watching her, my champion.