By Mark David Blum

Folks, clients, colleagues, judges, and anybody else who has spent more than 30 seconds to get to know me over the past 20 years knows that during the run of the New York State Fair, I am not in the mood to work. I do not return phone calls and absent a “fire”, nothing distracts me from my mission of decompressing.

It takes almost three days just to stop walking from place to place. There comes a moment when you let go and “walking” is no longer your means of transportation. Instead, I call it the State Fair Stroll. When you find yourself meandering about just enjoying the sights, sounds, lights, and utter chaos of the Fair, then you know you have crossed that magic line from fairgoer to Fair enjoyer.

Once you achieve the state of mind and being of a Fair enjoyer, it becomes you and you meld into it. No longer do you stand out but manage to appear here and there and not be seen.

So, in response to all those who are sending me emails, writing me nasty letters, trying to fax me at my home number, leaving me voicemails, or my personal favorite … saying they were at the Fair on day X and didn’t see me, let me say this:

If you saw and experienced the Fair, I was there. What makes you think I was not standing right behind you watching and enjoying your stress and suffering?

I have become “one with the Fair”.

I am the Fair. The Fair is Me.

… and I ain’t coming back to reality until after Labor Day.