"can i help you find something?" she asked.
"that would be so helpful," i replied. "we're looking for my daughter's artwork. it was chosen to represent her school here at the fair."
chris and i had decided a month or so ago to skip the north carolina state fair this year. several friends of ours had adopted an every-other-year policy when it comes to the fair, and it had struck us as one of those brilliant parenting decisions that seemingly occur only to others but that we immediately steal once we realize how genius it is. since we'd gone last october, we were happy that 2012 was to be our off year, especially since chris begins a new job on monday with a longer commute (and likely the inability to inform his new employer that he's cutting out early to go eat a deep-fried turkey leg.)
that decision stood until susanna came home with a note from her art teacher. "CONGRATULATIONS!" it read. "your artwork has been chosen for the NC state fair!"
and suddenly, 2012 wasn't an off year any longer.
our helpful volunteer consulted her notebook and led us straight to the aisle where our elementary school's name hung. beneath the sign were four paintings, representing its student body of 900+, with susanna's in the top left spot. i marveled at her piece, as i had never seen it before. how i've wished all my life to have even a smidge of artistic ability! i thought. and she just does it so naturally. i finally tore myself away to find her standing next to me, a shy smile on her face.
"my goodness," our volunteer friend said, still with us. "do you see what's right there, next to your name?"
she was pointing to a shiny gold star sticker -- one that i'd seen, but assumed adorned all the artwork hanging on the walls. but i glanced around and realized that wasn't the case. very few, actually, had this star. "what does that mean?" susanna asked in her quiet voice she reserves for adults she doesn't know.
"oh, that means something very special. that means that the judges thought you had extra-promising artistic talent. what an honor!" and our newfound friend gave susanna a small squeeze on her shoulder before walking away to return to her post.
the four of us paused for a moment in that crowded exhibit hall amidst the hustle and bustle of the fair's opening day. outside, roller coaster riders screamed and carnival workers hawked their wares and music blared from the loudspeakers.
but inside, we shared a quiet moment of family joy as we celebrated our youngest child. seeing the smile on our daughter's face as she was recognized for her amazing God-given talent is honestly one of the happiest moments i've had as a parent. it wasn't on a soccer field in front of a large crowd, or on a stage in front of an audience. but it was among the people who matter most: her family.
we soon left and joined the thousands of people outside -- there were rides to be ridden and food to be devoured and people to be watched. (oh, the people watching!) but in a week's time, i doubt we'll be able to tell you much about our trip. we will have forgotten which ride was the favorite or what was the best thing we ate.
but there's one memory that will stand out about the 2012 north carolina state fair: that toothless smile -- a beam, really -- on susanna's sweet little face. and i will never forget it.
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