As of a last week, State Fair wasn’t just a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about Iowan prize-winning pigs, and lyrical, innocent ingénues.

It was a reality of chili dogs, funnel cakes, carnival rides, and the obligatory haunted house, which I visit no matter where I am, no matter how horrible it seems to be.

In this case, the thing broke down right in the middle – how fantastic.

I am a sucker for carousels. Every park, every country. I have to ride them.

My favorite of all time was the one of the oldest in our country, now shut down, in Coney Island. Rome was possibly my favorite.

As of last week, I’ll treasure the memory of the goat show, a festival of cheeses, and prize-winning quilts. Ah, yes…and the demotion derby. Let’s not forget about that.