County Fair

Countyfair_3 Before I forget, I want to record some of our goings-on during the trip to Utah. We went to the County Fair one of the days. The perfect small-town affair, complete with face painting and petting zoos and magic shows and clowns and animal exhibits and craft exhibits and a rodeo. And a Pie Eating Contest.

My mom entered my name in the contest (it was a drawing…you had to be lucky to get in…and wouldn’t you know, I got lucky.) She wouldn’t put her name in, maintaining that she had a "reputation" to keep up. I guess as a teacher, she was afraid she’d have students in the audience who would’ve enjoyed the show more than she’d like. If you ask me, the reputation she should worry about was the one she got in high school where she actually WON the pie eating contest. It still embarrasses her, little Danita, up there against football players and the like, winning the contest. Wish I could’ve seen THAT one!

Anyway, I didn’t really want to do it, but because I’d wanted the kids to do it and they were too chicken, I had to prove that it was no big deal. So I went up there. In front of a lot of people. To make a fool of myself. And make a fool of myself I did. Mom wanted me to eat it carefully so we could all share the left-overs. I told her no way, I was in it to win it. So when they said go, I dug in. Stuck my face in, intending to eat the whole thing in one huge gulp. Problem was, I had pie up my nose and so much pie in my mouth I couldn’t breathe. I’m pretty sure I even got pie in my inner ears, by way of my nose or mouth, I’m not sure which…maybe both.  To be honest, I’m not quite sure what I did then, how I survived from that point on. It was all a blur. Somehow, by some miracle, I didn’t pass out. Point is, I didn’t win. Barely got in a few bites.

By the grace of God I survived the experience…God knows it would be too much of a hardship on Dave to be widowed with four kids because of a pie eating contest. Only it seems to me that it would be a pretty fitting way for me to go, knowing how much I love to eat, and chocolate cream pie especially.

19 Comments

  1. Marjorie said . . .

    What a wonderful memory and I’m sure there’s no better way to go…LOL

    Posted August 30, 2005 at 4:20 pm | Permalink
  2. Hilary said . . .

    Cause of : Chocolate cream pie inhalation. {tragic}.

    Posted August 30, 2005 at 5:20 pm | Permalink
  3. tia said . . .

    YEAH baby!!! :D looks like a wonderful time shannon!!!

    Posted August 30, 2005 at 10:18 pm | Permalink
  4. Joanna said . . .

    Heee heee!!! Love those pie shots, Shannon!!!

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 5:54 am | Permalink
  5. Janet O said . . .

    That’s hilarious. At least it was a pie you liked!

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 7:41 am | Permalink
  6. HAHAHAHAHA! that’s a funny story and even funnier shots to go with it!

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 10:25 am | Permalink
  7. Andrea said . . .

    You crack me up sis. Wish I could’ve been there!!!

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 10:37 am | Permalink
  8. Ashley said . . .

    LOL, love the way you tell a story :) :)

    Ashley.

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 10:57 am | Permalink
  9. Lisa Damrosch said . . .

    That pie story is truly priceless! ROFL! Welcome Home!!

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 11:51 am | Permalink
  10. jamie said . . .

    omg- such cute shots! you are so cute to do that pie contest, shannon> :)

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 11:56 am | Permalink
  11. chris said . . .

    betcha have a whole new perspective on the subject of pie - great story - you look too cute with the “pie face”

    the pics are great -love those county fairs!

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 1:19 pm | Permalink
  12. AmyG said . . .

    what fun pics!!!! looks like a fun time. You look so young there - NO way you could be the mother of 4 :)

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 3:32 pm | Permalink
  13. kellicrowe said . . .

    yes, but she looked so happy eating that pie right up until the very end….
    kellicrowe

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 5:19 pm | Permalink
  14. Erica said . . .

    LMBO! I’m just imaging the epitaph :D “Wife, mother, daughter and friend…but a pie-eating champion she was not”

    Looks like a fun time was had by all :)

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 5:25 pm | Permalink
  15. Julia said . . .

    Bwaaaaaaaa!! Those photo’s are priceless, your kids must have gotten such a kick out of that!

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 8:42 pm | Permalink
  16. Jessi said . . .

    Death by a pie!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

    Posted August 31, 2005 at 11:16 pm | Permalink
  17. marygrace said . . .

    Oh, my. Look at you. I’m so proud! :D

    Posted September 1, 2005 at 6:09 am | Permalink
  18. Rachel said . . .

    that is hilarious! Love it :)

    Posted September 1, 2005 at 8:22 am | Permalink
  19. kent said . . .

    Welcome back! Sounds like you had some down home fun. Sorry you couldn’t carry on the pie eating contest winner tradition. Hope Sophie is feeling better. I’ve got a throwing up kid here myself. Well, when things get smoother for the both of us - we’ll have to catch up!

    Posted September 1, 2005 at 1:22 pm | Permalink

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared.