Casey, Gene and Nurse Julie do the fair (and meet Bill)

 Annual tradition complete!

Pentatonix at the Fair!

 It finally arrived.  

I brought tickets on February 20, I believe, when they first went on sale.  There hasn’t been any ‘big’ performers during fair time that Casey was interested in for years.  He always enjoyed going to the Contois local show as they did cool tributes to the Beatles or Queen.  But we were ready for a big show. So when we heard Pentatonix was coming we decided to go for it!  

We had a couple of hurdles:  one, I hadn't been to the fair since the last time I had gone with Colin, which I think was 2013.  For some reason only Casey and Gene went in 2014.  I just couldn't bring myself to go without Colin.  I know, kinda weird, but grief is weird.  Thankfully, Gene and whoever he and Casey ended up going with (usually Nurse Julie) would bring me home a fried dough.  Two, when I bought the tickets, through e-tickets or some big ticket place, they told me that all the ADA tickets were sold.  Like what?  I bought them the first day they were on sale and there's always been room whenever we've gone to a show.  Well, Elton John was pretty packed as there were a lot of old people :)  But Elton John was not at fair time, either.  I called the ticket place again and they said the same thing.  I tried calling the fair grounds and they said they didn't have anything to do with selling tickets anymore. So, since February I'd been having that weigh on me worrying.  I had to buy seats on the floor which would have been a pain with his big power chair AND you never know about the weather during fair time and the floor seats are out in the open and the ADA seats are covered and up a little higher so there's nothing to block the view like floor seats would if you're sitting in a wheelchair. Three: Molly Sue. She still has never been left alone at home as she's a nervous ninny.  So it was decided that Gene and Molly would drive us in the van and leave us off, and Nurse Julie, Aunt Chris, Casey and I would go to the fair and show.   

Now we had to wait 6+ months!  Casey pretty much wished the summer away, lol.  Staci made this count down chart for Casey because he kept asking when the show was going to be.  She also made a fake ticket for him. 

Fast forward to the Friday before the show.  We find out that Owen Reilly was coming up to go camping in Fairfax which is the town right next to us!  Owen is the middle son of our friends, Karen and Bill.  We've know them since their Connor was diagnosed at 6 weeks of age in 2002.  He was 11 months younger than Colin.  Sadly Connor passed in July of 2023.  Connor was Casey's best friend and we would see him and Karen every week day in book group.  But, we're friends for life!  

Owen and friends planned to go to the fair while they were here and our times coincided!  I texted Owen when we got to the Expo building and in minutes he was right there!  It was good to hug a Reilly again.  He spent about an hour and a half hanging with us and walking around checking out the exhibits. 

Casey and Owen!  Casey's eyes are open!

Two pics!

Pollinators was this year's theme

Always have loved the annual sand sculpture.

Record breaking pumpkin!

Me and Owen!

Then the weather turned.  It got dark and windy and we decided to take cover.  Owen had to go meet his friends.  We went to the box office and asked about the ADA seating and if we could change our tickets.  She assured me that if we had needs they by law had to accommodate us.  I felt better after that. 

Then we found Bill W, Julie's bf.  I won't go into the whole story since this blog is mostly for me to remember things and I know all about Bill.  But short story is that Bill, used to cater for all the shows at the fair. He has since retired from catering but he knows EVERYONE at the fair and everywhere else he goes.  If there was to be a picture in the dictionary of a 'people person' Bill W would be there, lol.  

We went into the venue, and of course he knew everyone.  All we had to do is to find a blue shirt person to help us and of course there was one who knew Bill and they ushered us right into the handicap area.  Technically, we all shouldn't have been in there but they let it slide.  From what I remember the boys could have a nurse with them and a companion.  We had a nurse and 3 companions.  It did get pretty packed and there was shuffling around but I think everyone had an okay and comfortable viewing spot.  It's an rectangular are with only fold up chairs so the area could accommodate an assortment of chairs and walkers, etc.

And then we decided we needed food.  Somehow I was elected to go with Bill.  And, then it rained and poured.  It was a mess!  We wanted fried tacos but the line was super long so we ended up with sausages for me and Julie, hot dog for Aunt Chris and roast beef sandwich for Bill.  I don't know how long we were gone but we must have talked with at least 10 different groups of people that Bill knew!  he had to explain to people that I was Julie's clients mom and that he wasn't stepping out on Julie, haha. 

At least we got some rainbows!

Nurse Julie and the rainbow

Me and the Big K.  A little antsy for the show.

Me, Chris and Bill

Not happy about pics at this point

The rain stopped. And then the show finally started.  It really was amazing!  Casey and I had Googled their tour schedule so we knew what songs to expect.  And we watched a lot of their YouTube videos.  I was really looking forward to Bohemian Rhapsody and Hallelujah but unfortunately Casey's belly acted up and he became uncomfortable in his chair so we made the decision to leave the show early.   

We made our way out and texted Gene.  He was already waiting for us at the fair exit.  We got to hear a few more songs on our way out, so that was good.  

We made it home and quickly got Casey down so he could be more comfortable.  Julie did his treatment and got him ready for bed while I unpacked and cleaned up stuff and got things ready for the night.  Nurse Deb is on vacation for 16 days so I am the night nurse.  Julie felt badly for me so she has committed to doing 2 nights this weeks so I won't have to do 16 nights in a row!

Oh, PS.  At one point Julie went out and got us fried dough!  I got the nuggets and Julie and Aunt Chris got the one big one.  These days when you ask for maple syrup they give it to you in a little covered cup.  Much less messy! 

Casey gets his 'live' Beatles fix

Casey has been looking forward to going to the Champlain Valley Fair all summer long--"The Ten Best Days of Summer." (which is actually the symbolic end of the summer since it's the end of August/beginning of September.)  Nurse Julie and he made an unofficial date to go together.  He mentioned it almost every day.  There was to be a Beatles tribute band show and he loves the Beatles so he was excited!

The day finally came.  He has 3 Beatles shirts to choose to wear.  He picked one for day time and one to wear to the show later.

I haven't been to the fair since I went with Colin which was a few years before he died.  I don't think we went in 2014 as there was no good show that year.  Anyway, I can't quite bring myself to go without him.  I have a few of those places/events that I can't bring myself to go to/attend.  I stayed home and binge watched season 2 of Mindhunter and hanging out with Jaxon, Moxie and Nuggie.

Got Casey all duded up and in his chair.  Put his hands in a 'bin-din-do' (Kathy's term for the fabric Velcro straps that can hold his hands in place) and strapped his chair in the front position in the van,and then he and Gene were off. Nurse Julie parked in the Mazza's stand spot and caught their attention as they drove by.  /She followed them in to the fair, so that was good.

Nurse Julie sent me lots of photos so I could keep apprise of their exploration. They met up with Bill and Mrs Wetherbee.  Seems like they were able to do quite a bit before the show started.  Julie had been worried that the handicap area (covered box area) would be full but they had no problem.  They stayed for the whole show, which is pretty good for Casey.  Usually he'd be wanting to go walking around.  I guess all the summer concerts we went to prepared him for staying put and enjoying.

The band was pretty good.  Trevor Contois and Friends, from what I gather, have only been playing the Beatles together for a month or so (I could be wrong) in preparation for this show.  They had all sorts of instruments and a great play list.

Sorry! The pictures are out of order (the ones from home should have been first) but I don't want to mess with the blog too much because I am out of practice and don't want to mess up what I've done.

SMA Awareness Day 23: Daughtry and Goo Goo Dolls at the fair

We're happy and pooped!  We all had a good time and had no medical snafus (Colin did not get bit by a pony, we didn't forget any supplies, we didn't drop any respiratory stuff on the ground, the formula ran well through the pumps and we didn't run out of battery power) and all went well.

We made to the main area so we could see the parade.  It's kind of cool.  We like seeing the draft horses, and cows, and oxen and little cars and carts wind their way down the lane.  There were two HUGE oxen being herded by a boy who couldn't have been more than 12 years old!  The draft horses took up the whole pathway and acted perfectly.

There just happened to be a Mr. Sausage booth across from us so I had a sausage with peppers and onions and Aunt Chris had a hot dog.  Gene played the martyr and didn't get anything.

Then we were off to check out the animals.  All of the tents were crowded but for some reason the bunny tent was extra busy so we skipped for the time being although the boys were mad.

 We all loved the sheep.  There was one little guy who kept bleating indignantly and it was so funny!  Colin really liked that one.  Some of them were super friendly and we got to pet them and skritch their faces.  They were just like dogs :)



We hit the expo buildings and saw the Christmas trees (Colin, Aunt Chris and I loved them and they smelled so good!), all sorts of flowers, vegetables, and other exhibits.  Wish we could have spent more time looking but the boys got restless.  We enjoyed the sand sculpture.  This year's theme was The Wizard of Oz.

We doubled back and saw the bunnies.  So many cute little bunnies, and a couple of cute huge ones.

Gene suggested we get ice-cream from the Vermont barn and Aunt Chris and I concurred.  This is another tradition we have--each year we go and get local made ice-cream at the dairy barn.  I got Maple Walnut and it was delicious.

Then it was time to head over to the grand stand to get our seats for Daughtry and the Goo Goo Dolls.  It was crowded as we headed over but got in quickly and into the handicap section.  We love where we get to sit.  It's not super close to the stage but close enough and we have no one in front of us. It's a covered boxed area and people just sit/wheel in wherever they want.  I was surprised that there were a couple of groups already in there as I hadn't expected that there would be so many handicapped people seeing either band.  I know that sounds weird, but I mean, when we saw Elton John I knew there would be tons of people (old people, ha ha) but there never are many handicapped kids that come to see the shows in our experience.   One couple that was there let us move into a better spot while they moved over.  We take up a lot of room, which I feel badly about, but we try to be as efficient as we can with our space.  Colin has to sit kind of sideways in his chair because of the way he lays down and the way his head is.  So I usually sit behind him so we don't take up as much front row space. 

It was kind of boring to wait, especially since Nurse Julie wasn't there as she and Bill were catering two weddings.

But, finally, Daughtry came on.  Yay!  He came out fast and hard with lots of energy and the crowd loved him.  Gene was surprised that he liked him as much as he did.  He doesn't know much of his music, not like Casey and I do, and he ended up enjoying him.  We all really liked him and had a good time. 

 Near the end of Daughtry, I got a call from Nurse Julie and she said they were done with their weddings and they were on their way to the fair.  Whoot!  She and her friend, Kelly, came over and hung for a bit.  Casey was kind of grumpy and restless so they all decided to walk around.  Colin and I stayed and listened to the Goo Goo Dolls.  They were good and played good songs, but we're just not as into him as we are to Daughtry.  I was trying to figure the crowd out. There were definitely people that were obsessed with both bands-- you could kind of tell by the way each group was dressed,  ha ha, but everyone had a good time, for sure.

The crew came back from their walk in high spirits.  They had left the grand stand area and went to the Halverson's tent and had a beer :)  Casey thought it was the funniest thing in the world!

We were going to buy tee shirts but they were $30 each so we declined.  I'll try to find some on Amazon or Ebay because both boys really wanted one.  Yes, even Colin who doesn't give a care about cloths wanted a Daughtry shirt.  Note to self:  don't forget to try to dig up some shirts on line.

It looked like we were going to be later than we thought so I texted Deb.  She tried to call me but I couldn't hear a thing.  I called her as we were pulling out of the fair grounds.  We left right before the last song and got out of the grounds pretty easily.  If we had waited any longer we would have been in a snarly traffic mess forever. 

We beat Deb home.  Aunt Chris left.  Gene took Jaxon out.  We put the boys into bed as quickly as we could. Deb helped finish up getting Casey ready for bed.  I was up in bed and still hearing Casey at midnight but I think they both were asleep soon afterwards.



I'm adding some short video clips of the show in case anyone is interested.