I probably figured I'd do this forever... From about 1979 to maybe 1998–just under 20 years–my annual October ritual was to take a "vacation" from work by working instead at the South Carolina State Fair, which runs 11 days each early-to-mid-October.

The specific gig: parking cars! Meaning working in the field as a parking attendant, directing traffic, pointing cars where to park in the dusty expanse of a flat grassy wasteland, and other miscellaneous duties such as enforcing one-way traffic, being a security guard at exit-only gates, etc. The most exhausting, most sleep-depriving, feet-hurting, living-in-the-dirt, braving-the-elements job I ever loved. I even continued to do it for a few years after moving to California! That's right, I'd fly from San Diego to Columbia specifically to work at the fair (oh, and to visit my parents too, of course).

¿Estoy loco?

I hope to try and explain myself on this page, i.e. why in the world was I compelled to do such a thing, again and again for almost 20 years.

       my South Carolina page

       my Columbia page

       my NCR page