Ah, the fair. It’s an annual event that we’re drawn to. We know the dates that it will be in our community and the events surrounding it. And because most of us have been to a few of them in our lifetimes, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect. We might even think we’re at that point where the fair can no longer surprise, amuse or delight us.
And yet, year after year, when we go, we always seem to find something that we didn’t see the year before. And it’s not necessarily something new, it’s just that we might be seeing it from a different perspective. Maybe we’re with family and it’s that sense of belonging. Maybe we’ve got new family members who are experiencing the fair for the very first time. (Oh, the smiles, the laughter and the joy that brings!) Perhaps we’re with a group of friends and the bond of closeness grows even stronger. Or maybe we’re experiencing it through the eyes of love, where the whole world is sweet and warm and good.
Which takes us to another point: to fully experience the fair, you have to be 100 per cent completely in the moment, all the time. You need all your five senses awake and at the ready so you can truly see, hear, taste, smell and touch as much as you can. Maybe being at the fair gives us a bit of a booster shot. Sort of a “wake up and grab hold of life” moment? After all, it’s hard not to get caught up in all the excitement, all the colours, lights and sounds.
Everyone has their own reasons for going. For us, it’s pretty simple. It takes us back to the basics, because one to one communication is still the best way to reach people. We set up shop for a few days in a booth and take the time and opportunity to meet and talk with as many visitors as we can. We find out what’s going on in their lives, what’s important to them right now and, if possible, we try to find a way to help them out.
After all, this was one of the basic premises behind fairs that date back centuries. It was a time to get together, to talk, laugh, share, and do business. In spite of all the change, progress and technology that we’ve experienced, perhaps this gives us a small measure of comfort to know that those fundamentals have remained virtually intact.
So, with that in mind, we hope you’ll spend some time at the Western Fair this weekend. And we hope that you’ll enjoy the experience as much as we do. And, if you’ve got a few minutes, come on over to our booth and say hello.
(Photo Credit: Western Fair)
