Ahhhh Santa-Cali-Gon Days in Independence.

I love this festival - the smell of roasting, frying, boiling, grilling food mingling in the air, oh my. The amazing  root beer, the great crafts, rings and things, colorful clothing, all the people from all walks of life crowded in the streets. The music, the lights, bells and laughter of  children on the carnival rides. It's great. I always pretend I don't see the few old staggering drunks each year. But, hey, what's a festival without one or two town drunks who no one pays any attention to?

The boys and I have gone to this festival every year that we have lived in Independnece - about 13 years. Last year was the first year my oldest wasn't home to go. He wasn't home this year either. But Jordan and I went. We had to, he had to refill his giant blue root beer bottle. You know that stuff has got to be good. It cost $12 a bottle. But that's not the teller, the teller is that Jordan, who is the messiest person I know and can't ever find anything that makes its way into his bedroom, has kept that bottle two years. And every year, he knows exactly where it is so that he can take it to Santa-Cali-Gon for a $3 refill. This year he took it twice. Once when he went with me, and again when he went with some friends.

Usually we spend hours at the festival walking around going from booth to booth looking at stuff and eating and buying. I don't think I've ever been there when I didn't buy something. I don't know if its the city girl in me (I'm really a suburban girl but it was New York, not a lot of giant festivals)  that makes love this thing so much but I do. And I'm not afraid to tell people either. I texted a friend about five times telling him he ought to go and take his wife.  I dn't know if they made it or not. I hope so.

 I think too that it's impossible to go to this thing and not run into someone you know.

This year, even though Jordan and I just buzzed in to get his root beer, I ran into my Tae Kwon Do instructor who was there with his mother. I loved seeing the mother/son thing. It was so sweet. I made a point to mention how special that bond is. I should know, right?

This year, like last year it rained Friday night and all day Saturday so Saturday night it was pretty packed. The weather was absolutely perfect.

 Jordan and I are walking along, he had his arm around my shoulder. We were laughing at things wer heard people say. We were kind of ease dropping. That, and people watching is fun at a carnival/festival. Then I said, "this is really a nice night isn't it?"

He said, "Yeah it is and no violence either."

We started laughing.  And the lady standing in front of us turned around and was laughing too. She was ease dropping on us.

 Oh I forgot to mention that every year there's a fight, at least one, at the festival too.

It's still a great family event. Heck I'd been having a couple of really hectic weeks. And for an hour or so, Santa-Cali-Gon - the carnival, festival atmosphere, family, friends, sweet and spicy smells put my mind right at ease.

I just love Santa Cali-Gon Days.  It's the same time every year - Labor Day weekend. Next year, don't miss it.