FIRST PERSON

were injured — I knew my visit two days later would be different, maybe too different for me to even make the effort to go.

As I mentioned, though, my brother and I had taken a day off work. I also had already bought the tickets. So I decided to get myself ready to go, even though my arthritis was making itself known and I really just wanted to crawl back into bed. I knew that I would need to use my walker; I'd never had to use more than a cane at the fair.

Just then, I suddenly thought of my friend Mary, who, even though she had suffered a stroke, took every opportunity to get out and about.

"I can go out and hurt," Mary used to say, "or stay in and hurt."

I looked down at my fingernails, which I'd forgotten to manicure. For a change, they were long, making me think for a moment about how, when I was younger, I would have painted my nails with a bright color before going to the fair — just for fun.

The fair, though, wasn’t going to be fun. I was taking my walker and my attitude this year.

When I got through the gate, I saw the most amazing thing: Half of the people, it seemed, were using walkers, wheelchairs, canes and scooters.

I was seeing people who used whatever means necessary to have fun — a fairgrounds full of “Marys” who would rather go out and hurt than stay in and hurt and mope.

These folks weren't at the fair to ride rides. They knew the fair as much more than a carnival; it's a celebration of all things Ohio.

I saw the sad image of a Ferris wheel in the distance, its only movement the empty seats swaying in the wind.

When I looked another direction, though, instead of impatient children waiting in line for rides I saw kids laughing at a pig race or riding camels. I also saw children gazing in amazement at a very newly born baby calf.

The fair also offers the sudden parade of the All Ohio State Fair Band, food galore, booths with crafts found nowhere else and ribbons marking hardwon achievements.

Our state fair is special and should be cherished.

It has been different this year, but it should still be experienced.