Forget common sense, it’s state fair time

I was 8 the first time I attended a state fair: My grandfather took me and some friends to Dallas where the State Fair of Texas takes place each summer. I remember the air was sticky hot, and the fairgrounds stank of manure.

We ate too much junk food and then rode the Zipper, after which I suffered a horrible stomachache and ended the day pouting over missed stuffed-animal opportunities.

In other words, I absolutely loved it.

Now, as an adult, I also love the California State Fair (see “Confesssions of a state fair addict,” page 16). Never mind that my grown-up stomach can't really handle all that junk food or those rides. Never mind that my grown-up-budget sensibilities know better than to plunk down so much cash just to snag a cheap toy. Never mind all that common-sense tomfoolery, state fairs are a tradition that transcend maturity. In fact, I've learned, one of the best things about being a grown-up is knowing exactly when to not act like one.

This year, I'm aiming for multiple visits. I'll eat my favorite foods (corn on the cob with plenty of cayenne pepper, falafel, and ice cream). I'll sit front row for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts on July 18, I'll hog the photo booth, and I'll wander the Cal Expo halls, gawking at all the magical products that promise to improve my life. Maybe I'll even chuck common sense out its boring little window and take a spin on a ride that promises to tie my insides into a churning knot.

Whatever happens, I'll be sure to visit the beer and wine garden repeatedly. So many wine slushies, so little time. I'm a grown-up lady person, I can do that if I want.