He was bound and determined to make it, so he reserved the scooter online for the day and we got him to the gate and he was able to walk to the rental place! Stella got the day off and I was slated to volunteer one last time for the late shift from 6-8 later in the evening.
We were off on a family labor Day adventure! Randy started the day with his usual foot long hot dog and Stella got pizza. Once they had some food we headed over to get Stella a sweater! She chose the one my Mom figured she would like best. I would have been wrong...so wrong!
We went to check out the hot tub that we had coming to the house on Wednesday and Randy connected with his salesman! It looked inviting! Randy was hoping he would get a couple turns in it prior to his surgery.
We had no special agenda other than sampling some fair favorite foods, checking out the Midway and finding some shirts for Randy in the Grandstand. Turns out Randy forgot his sunglasses back in the car, so finding new ones made the agenda too.
We stopped for a quick snack of Tom thumb donuts,
As we scooted down the ramp, I took pictures of all the Tribune T shirts that were offered this year! I do not buy t shirts but I like pictures of them!
We headed to the Midway....bypassing animals. Yes this would be the first year that I did NOT go see cows, pigs, sheep or horses. Strange, very strange.
Stella did not want to go on rides this year.
But she won a whale in the shooting gallery
A minion playing basketball!
A mini donut for me shooting water to fill a balloon and I won a sad little monkey playing whack-a-mole!
Randy....the ticket machine :)
And there was sad little guy. Not sure I want to win this.
My Ferris wheel selfie attempt.
We went to look for Grandma, but she was not volunteering in the plaza as we thought. She was up in the Bailey House. Randy wanted to check out the West End and the new History Center. He liked it. If anyone wants to know about the role Randy's family played in the early years of the fair, just ask!
We found the Johnny Pop guys and Stella enjoyed a frozen yogurt smoothie on a stick.
My friend Kathy comes to the fair almost as much as I do. I had not run into her any day...until today!
As we walked to find a seat to watch the parade to see if we could catch a glimpse of Roy marching, Stella finished her Johnny Pop and read the stick!
This may be the first time in a few years Randy had made it at the fair long enough to enjoy a parade! Scooters are GOOD!
Parade shots:
After the parade Randy was debating a corn dog or pronto pup when he spotted the Foot long Corn dog place! THAT was it!
Stella purchased a bubble gun along the way! Hours of fun for the children around her as she walked!
After that, Randy had had enough and was ready to head home and rest. Stella was going to join a friend later and I had to return to volunteer one last shift. We knew we had rented the scooter for the whole day, so we returned it to get Randy home, but kept the contract so we could pick it up again later. Not sure why, but thought it might be fun. My legs were doing well, but a scooter ride at the end sounded OK!
At my last shift, I arrived to find a note that some of my kids stopped by to see me.
This was bittersweet, since their last day at my center had come and gone. A wonderful family!
A few more fiends stopped by to say Hello! Janice K, found herself ironically standing in JUST the right spot for a picture (on her Birthday no less!)
Mandy & Andrea stopped up to see me!
And then Jeannie came by!
I have to say, having a "Home Base" where people can find me at the fair was awesome this year!
Dan, my fearless co-worker had asked me early on during the fair if I had a chance to walk through the giant colon at the U of MN research booth this year. I had not and we thought I had missed my opportunity.
Oh boy, were we wrong! Lucky for us....there it was! I scooted right through it on my ride checking out the superhuman sized cancer cells and polyps. Oh what wonders to behold at the Fair!
Dan, Tom, Debra and I were headed to have a final beverage before we all took our leave of one another for a year... Stella & Juliet connected with me and then took the scooter down to the West End amphitheater to find Mom, who was watching a Johnny Cash cover group.
My crew enjoyed a beverage at O'Garas as we discussed the best cleaning products for icky, sticky, post state fair goo removal from all the surfaces in the Alphabet Forest. Sadly, I would not be able to help on the clean up crew, as I was back to work tomorrow.
We finished our beer and went our separate ways, and I headed down to meet Mom & the girls. I was thinking about all the wonderful people I met and had the opportunity to work with. The stories I learned and the experiences I had by choosing to take on the volunteer gig. I would do it again next year in a heart beat. It will depend on my Stella and her College schedule...YIKES..
Journey was playing in the Grandstand and you could hear them form anywhere. I knew my peeps were making their way up Dan Patch toward the East end of the Fair. As I headed their way I saw Mom ........
She dared not make the scooter go too fast, lest she lose control. It was TOO FUNNY
We returned the scooter and made our way, one last time, home from the fair. It was almost 11:30! Stella showed me her last loot, a blue sock monkey, a chamois and some more hand sanitizer.
When I saw it, I realized we forgot to get our flu shots. Oops.
I made Stella try on the Sweater when we got home
and then get to bed so she would be ready for school the next morning at 6:30 am!
Another State Fair season come and gone. It was wonderful, full of new, fun adventures and I let some old adventures go along the way.
Next year..I am totally getting a pedicure with red toes and yellow polka dots! Alphabet Forest, I shall return!
After the parade Randy was debating a corn dog or pronto pup when he spotted the Foot long Corn dog place! THAT was it!
After that, Randy had had enough and was ready to head home and rest. Stella was going to join a friend later and I had to return to volunteer one last shift. We knew we had rented the scooter for the whole day, so we returned it to get Randy home, but kept the contract so we could pick it up again later. Not sure why, but thought it might be fun. My legs were doing well, but a scooter ride at the end sounded OK!
At my last shift, I arrived to find a note that some of my kids stopped by to see me.
A few more fiends stopped by to say Hello! Janice K, found herself ironically standing in JUST the right spot for a picture (on her Birthday no less!)
Mandy & Andrea stopped up to see me!
Dan, my fearless co-worker had asked me early on during the fair if I had a chance to walk through the giant colon at the U of MN research booth this year. I had not and we thought I had missed my opportunity.
Dan, Tom, Debra and I were headed to have a final beverage before we all took our leave of one another for a year... Stella & Juliet connected with me and then took the scooter down to the West End amphitheater to find Mom, who was watching a Johnny Cash cover group.
My crew enjoyed a beverage at O'Garas as we discussed the best cleaning products for icky, sticky, post state fair goo removal from all the surfaces in the Alphabet Forest. Sadly, I would not be able to help on the clean up crew, as I was back to work tomorrow.
We finished our beer and went our separate ways, and I headed down to meet Mom & the girls. I was thinking about all the wonderful people I met and had the opportunity to work with. The stories I learned and the experiences I had by choosing to take on the volunteer gig. I would do it again next year in a heart beat. It will depend on my Stella and her College schedule...YIKES..
Journey was playing in the Grandstand and you could hear them form anywhere. I knew my peeps were making their way up Dan Patch toward the East end of the Fair. As I headed their way I saw Mom ........
She dared not make the scooter go too fast, lest she lose control. It was TOO FUNNY
We returned the scooter and made our way, one last time, home from the fair. It was almost 11:30! Stella showed me her last loot, a blue sock monkey, a chamois and some more hand sanitizer.
I made Stella try on the Sweater when we got home
and then get to bed so she would be ready for school the next morning at 6:30 am!
Another State Fair season come and gone. It was wonderful, full of new, fun adventures and I let some old adventures go along the way.
Next year..I am totally getting a pedicure with red toes and yellow polka dots! Alphabet Forest, I shall return!
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