Stepping Out of the Boat

Apparently, millions of people in America and around the world think that watching old cars savagely wreck in a fenced-in mud pit is good entertainment. I (Claire) am officially not of that opinion; however, John, and most of the other people I went with seemed to enjoy themselves. I just don't see the entertaining value in it.

We went to the fair - again- to see this "real entertainment" with our friends, Mark and Andrea Hera. Unfortunately, I ended up

saving seats for everyone for about a half hour by myself - which I thought was incredibly ironic, since I was the only person who was essentially taking one for the team in attending this spectacle. I actually read a book for a little while until the beer-gutted man sitting next to me began sending strange looks my way.

Needless to say, there was much smoke, both from cigarettes and ciagars around us, and from the cars themselves. Any time even a spark of fire apppeared coming out of any of the cars, a deafening cheer went up from the crowd. I guess the extra danger factor of flame provides even more entertainment than the constant smashing.

Pictured to the left is yet another form of "real entertainment" found at the demolition derby: a tractor that performs tricks. This picture isn't that great, but the driver of the tractor did wheelies and - in a sense - made the tractor break dance (very slowly, of course). People seemed to like it.

I pretty much viewed the whole thing as a cultural experience. I enjoyed watching people and how they behave at an event like that - and I enjoyed watching John, Mark, and Andrea enjoy themselves.

If you get the chance, I recommend that you try out the demolition derby - but I find it only necessary to go once in a lifetime.