Grab a bag … or a booth — a Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair booth … and remember those who run it or ran it.

That’s what we’re doing. After all, what would that tradition be without the people who run and work the fair?

So, first in this fair booth series, today’s Retro Pic of the Day honors some fair ladies at the Grab Bag Booth, otherwise known as the balloon ladies. When kids don’t win a prize at a game booth, this is the place the parents take them to get some fair token — like a balloon.

A favorite balloon lady of all time, 50-plus-year Fair Haven resident and longtime FHFD Ladies’ Auxiliary memberJeanette Choma didn’t make it to work this night of the fair last year. But, her daughter-in-law was right there with the other ladies.

Do you know who these ladies are? And, do you know about Jeanette Choma’s ritual? She likes to remember those in the fire company who have passed by quietly sending balloons up to “heaven.”

Who used to run the Grab Bag Booth in the 1970s, ’80s and early ’90s? Yes, this editor’s mom, Sally. There used to be a helium balloon blowing machine with an ominous and just plain weird looking clown face in the center. Yes, the helium came out of his big, freaky red mouth.

And, yes, I used to sell balloons most every night of the fair when I was about 12, clad in groovy 1970s hip huggers, frizzy pig tails and smock shirts. It may be a blessing that I can’t find those photos — for readers eyes, that is.

They used to sell punch balls at the Grab Bag Booth, too. And the fair kids blew them up during the day. They were loads of fun to haul out of the stock room in the basement of the Out Back.

Let’s just say there were a lot of runaway punch balls. How many can a kid hold? Never mind. Nothing worse than a punch ball casualty. OK, maybe a taking cotton candy from a rebellious parent on a sweets bender.

The photo of Sally is next up.

— Elaine Van Develde