Sometimes I can still smell the lingering scent of funnel cake in my mother’s hair. I can still see her blue-striped Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair apron draped over the kitchen chair. I can see her tying those apron strings. I can see her checking her hair and lipstick in the mirror by the door. I can hear her voice calling to me upstairs to hurry up as I tried to get my pigtails even and the puffy yarn bows tied just right. I’m always late.

And sometimes I can still see us walking down the street, her scurrying, brushing her hair to the side, still yelling back to me to hurry up.

Dad was already there, driving his kid crew crazy stocking the booths, clipboard in his hands, pencil-checking and peeved about something or other, but still belly laughing, telling corny jokes and patting the kids he drove nuts on the back. He loved them. He loved his Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company. So did my mother. They loved Fair Haven.

They loved Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair time. So did I. It was pretty simple.

Some things just are.

It was how we started our fair week. It’s one of many bittersweet memories that smacks me in the face at the start of every fair week — like tonight — leaving a sting, a few tears and a smile. It was a long time ago.

Few remember them anymore — Sally and Bill Van Develde. Very few really remember me donning my hip huggers, smock shirts and pig tails dutifully inflating helium balloons and trying to win a stuffed animal a night at break time. Thank God for small favors. I was a gawky fashion nightmare at best.

I remember, though.

What, Mom? I’ll be right there! Ohhhhh Jeez! My pigtails are crooked and I can’t find my sneakers!

Uh, oh. I think she left without me this time.

See you and Dad at the fair, Ma. I always do.

— Elaine Van Develde

The Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair begins tonight and runs through next Saturday with the exception of Sunday.