Grumpy Side of 60
Life is Good
By Bob Robinson 

“Hey Bob… Callie Z was hilarious! My mom sent it to me. Oh, and by the way, I’d like you to meet my friend…” 

I’ve lost track of the number of people who have commented about Callie, including my own editor, Ryan Berry… 

“Aw come on, Bob. She can’t be the only one who doesn’t like you.” 

The student who stopped me was in one of my spring Public Speaking classes at Edison. 

“My mom sent it to me. She didn’t know you were my teacher last spring. She loves your columns. Guess I’ll have to start watching for them.” 

I love the Great Darke County Fair! 

For years it was an opportunity to meet friends, extended relatives and readers… now I can add former students and teachers to the list. 

A teacher from Woodland laughed about Callie. She mentioned it during the cheerleading contest the first day of the fair. She knew who I was talking about. 

We agreed Callie is a sweet kid but can be a challenge at times. 

During my wanderings the first three days I’ve met no less than a dozen former students, from my K-12 and Edison classes… 

“I know you,” he said, pointing to me and grinning. Woodland first grader. Another student remembered me from Woodland but is going to East this year… 

“I’m in the third grade, now,” she said. 

I got to interview two former students in the same family. 

“I know you! Come see my heifers.” He was at Woodland last year. His older sister was in one of my high school classes and did her best to educate me about cows and heifers and steers… she was extremely patient, but I think I failed miserably. 

“Cows?” 

“No. Heifers.” 

“What are the names of the cows?” 

“Heifers…” 

An older lady came up to me, grinning. 

“I always read your columns years ago,” she said. “I love seeing them in The Early Bird. You’re having fun, aren’t you?” 

“I’m having a ball!” 

It was not all fun and games, though… 

I saw Callie at the fair. Or at least I think I did. Not sure she saw me, but she definitely was not having fun. She was in a line for the ferris wheel that was a mile long. Well, almost. 

And she was not smiling. 

“Mr. Robinson, what are you doing here?” 

“Going to the fair, like you.” 

“But you’re old. Do you ride the rides?” 

“Not if I can help it, sweety.” 

Dad stood by patiently as the little girl quizzed me… we were at the kiddie rides. I’d lost my family and was hanging around waiting until they found me. 

“You’re too big to ride these rides. Would you ride the zipper with me?” 

“No, I’m sorry. I’m too old for rides like that.” 

“I want to do the zipper but daddy won’t let me.” 

“Daddy knows best.” 

She made a face at me and was off to her next ride, daddy dutifully following his young daughter. 

But my highlight was getting a hug from a young lady I’d worked with many years ago. She’d had some challenges, quit school and I’d leaned on her pretty hard, as did her parents. But she wasn’t listening. 

Or at least I didn’t think she was. Then she got her GED. A couple years later she was working full time and told me she was getting along with her parents again. Three years ago, she was a happily married young woman with a guy she loved… 

I saw her earlier this summer with two beautiful babies and a huge smile. 

I saw her again this week. She’d taken one of the multitudes of jobs the fair offered each year… and was radiating with happiness. 

Yup. Life is good at the Great Darke County Fair. 

Published courtesy of The Early Bird