The fair is one of my favorite activities of the year. I love walking through the sea of colored lights, fast rides, and lively performances. It’s also one of those classic things to do on a date. And since the fair was ending this week, there was no question about what Tony and I would do for our date night on Friday.

As you might expect, there were plenty of kids at the fair. These were some of the cutest “kids” that I saw. I really enjoyed petting them and feeding them from a $1 container of carrots. If goats stayed this tiny, I would be tempted to get one as a pet!

It was a cold night, so I went on a hunt for hot chocolate. The roller derby girls didn’t have any, but the nearby kiosk with the “50s diner” theme looked promising. So we walked over there, and sure enough, they had a delicious hot chocolate that had been spiced with cinnamon. I savored every sip.

My favorite activity at the fair is going on the Ferris wheel.

I’ve been on my fair share of thrill rides, but unless someone convinces me to go on one, I usually avoid them. I can feel myself cringing every time I look at someone’s terrified face and remember what it’s like to be falling and hanging upside down. If I’m with my husband, I’ll often look over at him thank him for not dragging me onto too many of those anxiety-provoking adventures.

There are some people who are afraid of getting on a Ferris wheel, and I can understand why people who have a fear of heights (or just rides in general) would be afraid of them.

When we were living in Guatemala, Tony and I decided to ride the Ferris wheel at our town’s fair. And within a few moments, I wanted to get off of it. The parts were held together by duct tape and wire, and it went at least twice as fast as a regular Ferris wheel. I still remember the Guatemalan men’s smiling faces as they made it go even faster. I’m sure that Tony’s hand was red from my desperate squeezing, and I prayed really hard that I would make it off alive. (I’m glad that it wasn’t until later that I heard about another Guatemalan town’s Ferris wheel, which had fallen over and killed every passenger on it.)

Of course, that experience hasn’t stopped me from riding the Ferris wheel every time we’re at a fair in our own country. I love the romantic experience of looking down on a scene that is dancing with color and light. I can’t say that I would wish to be stuck on a ride, but a part of me would love to be suspended in that moment for hours.