There was always an indication of the end of summer when I was growing up, and it was our town’s Fireman’s Carnival. All the towns in our area had them, and we went as a family to several. There was always a parade with marching bands and firetrucks from the host town, as well as neighboring towns, lots of food and carnival games, and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
As I got older, entering high school meant I could be in the marching band. Band students didn’t need to be in marching band; rather, it was an extracurricular activity, but most of us signed up.
I played flute and piccolo and enjoyed the parades, except when it was extremely hot or raining. Our uniforms were black wool, and we baked at times. I remember drinking salted lemonade during those days. Yuck!
When I graduated and went to college, the first two summers that I was home, I joined the Firemen’s Band, which again had many alumni from the high school as well as firemen who were musicians. It was fun, but there was a lot of drinking involved, and although I was legal at the time, I was a lightweight and could only handle a beer or two. I also did not spend time memorizing the music and eventually felt like a fraud – faking it during pieces I should have known.
I guess that’s another difference between marching band then and now – we always memorized our music, and did not carry music clips with us for either parades or field shows.
In any case, this time of year always reminds me of my marching band days and the Hilton Carnival – in Hilton, NY – where I grew up. The carnival was the last weekend of July and ran for four days. It was a place to meet friends, walk the midway, and my favorite – eat some steamed clams in the beer tent! My friend Jan and I would always split a dozen!
These are fond memories that I’ve never written about, with one exception that I’ll share today.
Fair Food
Popcorn,
Peanuts,
Funnel cakes, too!
When I am at the fair
I can’t pick just one,
Can you?
All my favorites are here,
Around the midway we go,
Seeing all the treats in one long row.
Fudge,
Candied apples,
Corn dogs, too.
When I’m at the fair,
I can’t pick just one,
Can you?
We’ve reached the end,
What did you pick?
For me, one of each
Did the trick!
On our way home,
From eating fair food
Because our tummies are full,
We’re in a great mood!
© Carol Labuzzetta, 2022
I haven’t had much time to write any poetry in the last few weeks. I’ve been finishing a textbook chapter on teaching with the science of awe. It’s almost done, I just need to add my citations. It’s over ten thousand words long! I’m ready to move on to something else and can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.
I had an awe-filled experience in 1999, the fall we moved to Wisconsin. It involved seeing a large group of monarch butterflies (>50) traveling together en masse over one of our highways near where we lived. This experience transformed my life and started me on a path to leave nursing and become an environmental educator, some twenty years later. During those twenty years, and beyond, monarch butterfly conservation and community education have been a large part of my life.
It is therefore fitting that this week, I participated in the Monarch BioBlitz, where I recorded and reported any observations I made of the Monarch or any stage of its life cycle. I’m happy to report that this year appears to have more monarchs – in all stages – than in recent years in Northern Wisconsin. My gardens are also abuzz with bumble bees, which is my current species of interest. Here are a few photos of my gardens this week:
© All photos, Carol Labuzzetta, 2025
It is Poetry Friday, and our host is Jane, the Raincity Librarian at her blog. Thanks for hosting, Jane!
The Apples in My Orchard 
10,000 words for your chapter! Good job, Carol! Interesting hearing about your band experiences and the awe that started your environmental education journey. It’s great that you are seeing increased numbers of monarchs in your garden. Your photos are stunning!
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Thanks for transporting us to those fair and music days, Carol – so lively! And, wow – you’ve been busy. Loved reading about the pollinators you’re seeing; I was thinking today that we’ve had bees at the flowers, but not nearly enough butterflies this year. Actually, fewer big spiders outside, too. Happy August to you – Robyn HB
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Raising my hand as a fellow flautist (and piccolo) player. Our uniforms were black and orange and also HOT! Oh, the memories. How cool that you’ve written for a textbook. I aim to get into that kind of writing. I may need to pick your brain someday.
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I feel full just thinking about all that fair good. 🙂 Congrats on nearing the end of that monster chapter! I can understand why you’re ready to move on. 🙂
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Such luscious poetry-food, Carol! And I’m so envious of your monarch sightings. We don’t have them where I live. Thank you for sharing the photos!
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Love all your garden pics, bees, and caterpillars! Glad you are seeing more monarchs, I have some but not an increase that I noticed. Fun food poem, and congrats on the book and moving on, thanks!
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