By Terra Avilla
This picture makes me happy for so many reasons. The first reason being that it is of two of my favorite people of all time – Kim Warren and her loving mother, Sandra Hagan. The second reason is that it was from over twenty years ago, back when you bought film for a camera and each picture was priceless. You got to hold the photo, touch it and not just admire it from a screen.
The third reason this picture brings me joy is that it is from our very own Children’s Fair, from many years ago.
The Lassen County Children’s Fair is in its 34th year. Thirty-four years of face painting and dancing and playing, corn dogs and bouncy houses. Thirty-four years of visiting booths, visiting neighbors and seeing old-time friends. Thirty-four years of bringing the community together.
Pretty dang cool stuff. And of course, because we appreciate that small town living, it’s entirely free to families. Last year, my niece was visiting from Reno. My sister could not believe that entrance was free, as well as 99% of the activities.
Our daughters were able to blow bubbles, play with a hula hoop and spend countless hours jumping in a bounce house – for free. That is Lassen County!
So many people from the Office of Education work diligently to recruit vendors, make countless plans and then do the heavy lifting of setting everything up. All to ensure that the community is able to have access to resources and all of the knowledge of what is going on in our community.
By walking around the fair for five minutes, (as Peach ran around with a Frisbee she conned some nice man out of) I was able to learn about so many of the great programs that our community offers: from Public Health to Soccer sign ups to house repair.
So many great organizations and people that are available to help. Events like the Children’s Fair gives them a platform to get out in the community and allows the community a way to interact with all of the amazing people trying to make a difference in our community.
When I look at the above picture it brings me so much joy. Just as much joy as when I look at the pictures posted from my friends this past weekend from when they took their children to the Children’s Fair. Years have passed yet the big cheesy smiles, moms and dads corralling their children, proud grandparents showing off their granddaughter’s cute dance costumes. The memories. The laughter. The love. The place in time where kids can reflect on an event where they had a really good time. It all stays the same.
This past week when Sandra proudly showed me the picture as she removed it from her purse, I knew it had extreme sentimental value. It reminded her of a time when her now adult daughter (who has her own child) was little. A time when she showed up to this event, got her daughter’s face painted and made a memory that she still cherishes to this day.
Thank you Children’s Fair for the face paint, the sugar rush and the bouncy. For the Frisbees and bubbles and stickers. But, more importantly, thank you for providing us an event to make these moments that turn into sweet memories, they are what makes us great, and what makes me love the place I live.