on being friends/sisters/family: lessons from the puyallup fair

When you're introduced to someone you tell them you're from Puyallup there are--almost exclusively--two reactions you might get.

Reaction #1: (confused expression, signaling the fact that they've never heard of such a strange place as 'Puyallup') "How do you spell that?"

Reaction #2: (a little spark in the eye signaling the fact that they have heard of Puyallup) "Oh! Do you go to the fair every year?"

This is why:

The Puyallup Fair

Every year people come from far and wide to 'Do the Puyallup.' It's an epicenter for deep fried foods, mop salesmen, carnival rides, and 'B-list' performers.

The Risser Family does frequent the Puyallup Fair once a year to take part in the cultural ritual. We escaped this year without any giant stuffed animals from the carnival games or fancy smoothie makers. . . but we didn't manage to keep away from the micro-fiber brooms, duffle bags with super fantastic heavy-duty zippers, or the few extra pounds that simply can't be avoided when the whole town smells like curly fries!

Trip # 1: just the girls.

As is tradition, the Kalles Jr. High Orchestra performed. The next child in our family with hands big enough to wield an instrument was among the brilliant sound of the strings. And not too happy that BJ and I were there snapping picture after picture of her. (But what are sisters for, if not to embara--I mean--spice up life!! :)

While Jillian and Mom stashed the violin and left-over school gear in the van Brooklin and I decided to take part in the true culture of the fair. . . the art exhibit!

Obviously surprised that this piece is featured at the Puyallup Fair and not in the Guggenheim in NYC, here is a shot of Brooklin observing a statue of two large bell peppers. I think they're hugging.

Jillian & Mom rejoined us after our thrilling walk through the art exhibit! Enough waiting. . . Time to hit the concession stands!!

First stop: A fair burger of choice. For the girls it was the 'two-fer' cheeseburgers. Mom and I opted for a fair burger appropriately dangling with grilled onions!

You probably don't believe that Mom was even there. . . but I just feel that it's not polite to take pictures of moms eating hamburgers. I knew she would appreciate it :)

Next stop: The scone booth.

Now this is sometimes when people get confused. Hamburgers, corndogs, curly fries, and Hawaiian style shaved ice make sense when it comes to a fair. . . but scones?!

It's a Puyallup Fair tradition. People stand in line for way longer than they should to purchase a small scone with a whole lot of butter & raspberry jam on it! They've been $1.00 for the last 200 years and then they raised the price 2 years ago to $1.25 and there were riots in the streets of Puyallup for weeks!!

Okay, that's an exaggeration, but it was kind of an upset to have to give up that extra quarter. . . oh but SOO worth it!

Here's BJ with the tickets to redeem our three scones.

Ready to dig in!!

Let's stop and think about what the natural next step would be after stuffing ourselves full of food. . . walk through the cow barns, of course!!

Okay, that was enough of a break. . . time for one last food experience.

Like I mentioned before, the Puyallup Fair is home of all things fried. Fried pickles, fried twinkies, fried oreos, you name it. . . it's fried. Oh and don't forget the Krispy Kreme & fried chicken sandwich. . . topped with raspberry jam.

We decided a less extreme dessert would be sufficient for our visit. An Elephant Ear!

Before you freak out and assume we actually ate the ear of an elephant. . . please understand that dough, when rolled extremely thin and deep fried looks strikingly like an elephant ear.

Don't forget slathering it in butter before dumping cinnamon & sugar onto it!

Jillian looks less thrilled to self-inflict heart disease after two bites--typical.

Trip # 2: The whole Fam!

This trip was less indulgent. And instead of cool & drizzly. . . we were standing in hot & sunny. Yuck.

Nothing super memorable went down except just spending a day together with the whole family. It was kind of weird because I can't remember the last time all 6 of us went somewhere (besides graduation).

It was funny to see Tobin spot random friends from high school as we walked throughout the pathways of the fair. It was good to hear some of the stories Jillian had from when she and her friends came to the fair a few days before. And Brooklin entertained us all with her daring question asking and sample snatching.

But the one who we learned the most from was this cool camel.

I don't know what his name is, but I do know he's a dromedary camel. He was one of the main features in the 'Animals of the World' exhibit. After taking this picture, I realized there was another animal in his pin. It was significantly smaller than this camel and looked disinterested in the camel. I thought it was funny that it was there so I asked the farmer, expecting to hear that the smaller animal was the baby camel.

Here's how the conversation went:

Me: So, what is that? (Pointing to the mystery animal)

Farmer: Oh, that's an alpaca. I usually don't like to bring him because there are other people here showing alpacas, but he's the camel's friend.

Me: He's the camel's friend?

Farmer: (a little defeated and confused) Yeah, you know, this camel can get so moody and strange when he's by himself and one day I realized that they're friends and if I bring the alpaca he'll be fine the whole fair.

What?! A camel that won't survive the fair without an emotional breakdown unless he has his alpaca friend with him?!

In addition to being hilarious, I was struck by the poignancy of the camel-alpaca relationship. I hope you have an alpaca. . . some one you lean on when it seems like all eyes are on you and you might crack under pressure. I hope you have someone to share your 'pen' with. Someone you can 'chew your cud' with. I know it's cheesy. . . but these are the types of relationships that make life super fun and adventurous!!