Summertime…what does it mean to me? I think of trips up to the cabin, in Luck, WI. It can get rough at the cabin, so prepare to be dirty, happy, and hopefully tipsy, from time to time! My family LOVES going to the cabin. I think this may have to be another blog for another day, but it also leads me to my next explanation about Summertime.
We live in a very small town. The second best thing to look forward to in our little town, is the Corn Carnival. This has got to be one of the most visited and attended events for miles around, and really…I’m not kidding with yas! It is amazing to see the gathering for CORN. Sounds like something that should really come from Prairie Home Companion, narrated and written by Garrison Keillor. I can see the headlines now…’CORN gathers thousands!” And I really would HATE to know how many pounds of butter it took them to slather on each and every one of those delicious, sweet corn-cobs!
And…it’s free!
You can go to the Corn Carnival, eat corn to your hearts content, and then head for the carnival games, rides, and fair foods. That is where the money is made. “Not wit the CORN, I tell ya! Day cannot pay for da corn! Ya hear, ma?!”
It is truly amazing that one little town could make such a big deal over corn, and of course, it is right in line with harvest time…but this is a coming together for the entire community.
Everyone runs into someone they know. People they haven’t seen all summer. Summer is coming to an end, and what a way to tell the town…”Hey you! We are glad you live here, LET’S EAT CORN TOGETHER!”
This really is quite the event. And completely interesting for me, being my photojournalistic self! It is a smorgasbord of photo opportunities!
My children, ages ranging from 10 down to two years old, LOVE the corn carnival. Who wouldn’t, really? Unless you hate corn…but then what is your point of living in Minnesota, or anywhere remotely near Iowa?
They love the carnival, except for the few instances where E would run shrieking through a crowd or down the road, to escape the loud noises that were startling him. Poor guy! Didn’t know where to run or where to hide! So with some persuasion from Daddy, and a new blow up bat, our tough guy came back to join his brother and sister, with a smile!
He even made it around the Rock Town Coaster almost one time, before it scared him and the pouty face and tears took over. Daddy looked like a giant in the bedrock car, much like Fred did, in the cartoon. Now, I get it! Fred, was really a pretty average size guy, probably around 5’10 or so…and his car, was just way too small, and his wife was really petite, so she fit…but Fred didn’t. ?… (I’m not too sure where this led me astray, but I am going to non-chalantly slide back on track with my story again…)
And there ya, have it folks! Real Men ride in carnival kiddie coasters with their two year old, so he can go on a ride too! I love this about my husband. He would do anything for our children. That really is a real man in my book! Thank you, Daddy…for being E’s hero tonight!
As for the other two…they saw school friends galore. The 10 year old rode the ‘Gravitron’ for the first time. It was his goal this year, and he did it! He came out stumbling a bit, but he had a smile on his face! Did I forget to mention that he put down FIVE or SIX sweet corn tonight, as well. (We were relieved to see he wasn’t wearing corn when he finished riding the ‘Gravitron.’)
Our daughter, she is still the princess. She is also still our little girl. She will go into first grade this year. Wow, where has the time gone? She really doesn’t seem so young at home most days. She would like to think she is 16! But get her into the carnival rides and all she wants to do is ride the Merry-Go-Round! She gets this huge grin! This is what happiness is all about! Watching your children be children. And even getting to watch the parents act like children for a change!
I think the highlight of our entire night had to be the two minute ride home. It took us more like ten minutes, because we had to scope out groups of people…so we could drive by slowly and squish the WHOOPEE cushion by the open window!
Oh my, I don’t think I have laughed that hard in a really long time. It was the most exuberating feeling to hear my entire family laughing hysterical laughter because Mommy decided to get crazy with the whoopee cushion.
“What can I say, I get crazy sometimes and it just comes out…and sometimes my children just happen to be there to experience the oddity. I just tell them that if they want to call me crazy, they are going to have to believe that they are also said, ‘Crazy’ because they are related to us, their loving parents. And we know we’re crazy!
What a great memory…The Cokato Corn Carnival. If your planning to pass through these here parts, (there is no snow this time of the year…EVER!) during mid-August, try to visit this three day festival, celebrating CORN.
Peril after the Seas 