Hanna, Caroline, and Lily were each given a five dollar bill and an admonition about being careful not to spend it too soon.
We parked the car and before we could cross the road into the fair, Lily lit up when she saw PONY RIDES...$5 pony rides. Her sisters and Mother began to remind her about the $5 rule. Mimi was shocked and proud that Lily (at four years old) was agreeable to walk on, practicing delayed gratification.
But once in the fair, each booth held something Lily wanted; she's still perfecting the art of "shopping". It wasn't long until she loved a pair of flip-flops with a lime green ribbon bow. Lily listened as her Mother repeated the $5 talk...then the lady mercifully GAVE Lily the shoes.
Well, she IS cute. And they were just $2.
Later Lily found a $1 bracelet (that broke before the end of the day) and a $3 beautiful purple ring. Now she only had to keep up with a $1 bill. It wasn't long until she spent it on a clucking chicken. (Picture a Dixie cup dressed as a chicken...with a string down the middle and a sponge at the end. You hold the cup in one hand and jerk the wet sponge down the string. Voila! She clucks!)
The older girls were much more careful. Caroline held out until the very last thing before she picked two tiny stuffed animals, a dolphin and a snake, who were made out of shiny/scaly material.
Hanna was torn between a Henna tattoo and earrings. So she spent $3 on the jewelry and went back to a VERY kind Henna man to ask if she could get anything for $2. He said "Sure, but don't tell anyone." He generously gave her an intricate dragon that we knew should have cost much more.
The key to a lasting Henna tattoo is not to touch it until it dries. One or two booths later Mimi forgot and took Hanna's shoulder. That involved tears and Mimi expressing great regret and asking for her forgiveness. Hanna forgave, but later in the day swimming caused it to fade more.
It's hard to get anything lasting for two dollars unless you count real life lessons.
By the time we left the fair, Lily was happy to just get her picture made BY a pony. Please note she's still holding the pink clucking chicken.
The fair was fun for old girls and little girls alike. We got to experience the generosity of others...the weather cooperated and didn't rain on us, but kept the heat down...no one lost their $5...Mimi got a connection to a lady who makes great American Girl doll clothes...and the girls got a lesson in money management.
The best thing? The memories, of course. The grandgirls are talking about next year when they will come on Labor Day and we will go back to the Clothesline Fair.
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