As a child, living on a farm in southern Saskatchewan, there were two special events in my year--the Christmas concert and the Regina fair.

Since I was the first grandchild and therefore queen bee, my Grandfather would take one day off from farming to take me to the Regina fair.

He drove a McLaughlin Buick open sedan and the day before our trip to Regina, we would clean the car inside and out. My job was to wash the wheels.

One day, in a snit about something, I kicked over the pail of sudsy water. Grandpa, in exasperation, flicked my back with his thumb and forefinger. I was devastated that my Grandpa would touch me in anger and my angry tears turned into broken-hearted sobs that took lots of hugs and cajoling before we continued with the cleaning of the car.

The car was equipped with side curtains that were used when it rained and they had to be inspected and cleaned. In the back seat was a fur robe and blankets. In those days the trip to Regina by car was a very serious event.

In the house, my aunt was busy arranging for the lunch we would take on our trip.

Next morning, after the chores were done, we set out for Regina. There were no highways and we made our way over the back dirt roads, hoping it would not rain before we had to return. If it rained, the clay soil of southern Saskatchewan made travelling difficult because of the gooey mess that stuck to the wheels like glue.

Arriving in Regina and the fairgrounds, we parked the car, leaving enough room between cars for our picnic lunch. Spreading the fur robe and blankets on the ground, we ate our lunch in the shade of the car.

On the grounds we ate cotton candy and other goodies, but not before we had a substantial lunch.

After lunch we toured the grounds and the midway. The first stop was the livestock barns, where we admired the cattle and horses. Then it was on to the midway for rides-the merry-go-round, ferris wheel and other exciting rides, before we went up in the grandstand to watch the horse racing.

After the races we went back to the car and had our picnic supper before going to the grandstand for the evening show.

This part of the fair was the most exciting. The lights, the costumes of the pretty girls, the clowns, the performing bears and dogs, the high wire performers. It was almost too much for one small girl.

As darkness closed in, there were even more colorful performances.

And then the fireworks.

It was awesome to see the showers of stars and bursts of color. The noise of the exploding shells of fireworks added to this excitement.

Then it was all over. The lights of the grandstand came on and we made our way to the car.

Cuddled up in the backs seat, covered with the fur robe, I would be fast asleep before we left the fair grounds, dreaming of all the wonderful things we had done and seen.