Brockton Fair

While in Massachusetts a few weeks ago, I paid a visit to my hometown fair. I grew up just blocks from the fairgrounds, so the fair was a a big part of summer during my childhood.

My memories are very mixed. I remember my grandmother saving her pennies in a jar, and then dividing them up among my siblings so we could buy tickets to the rides. We would be so excited to ride the Frizzler, the Thunderbolt, and the Himalaya. High point of the year.

However, I also remember my father staying up late and sitting on our porch with a baseball bat to deter any drunken revelers from breaking into our house. Not a high point of the year.

It is not rare for shootings and other forms of violence to occur during fair time. In fact, there was a shooting the night before I visited. I've been away for at least twelve years, but it is obvious that not much has changed.