Opinion | A true souvenir from the Minnesota State Fair: People looking out for one another

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I went to the Minnesota State Fair on opening day again this year. For years now it’s been our tradition; my two sisters and I meeting under the State Fair sign over the transit area entrance. We usually take a park-and-ride bus from our separate neighborhoods and meet shortly after the gates open. This year was slightly different, however, because my oldest sister is now in her early 80s, and while she’s in relatively good health, I picked Shelley up and drove to the University of Minnesota lot so we could ride the bus together.

Even before parking we realized something was wrong; the line of bus riders snaked around the parking lot for a couple blocks. We quickly got in line, but after an hour the line hadn’t moved much. In the meantime, my younger sister, Julie, texted to say she’d already arrived and was waiting for us. While it was still early, the sun shining on the exposed parking lot was relentless. Shelley was becoming more uncomfortable by the minute.

This was no way to start a long day at the fair.

I looked around the sea of cars and people. “I’ll try to find a place for you to sit down,” I said, letting go of my sister’s arm.

It didn’t take much searching to realize that other than an uncomfortable car fender or hot trunk lid I wasn’t going to find a place for her to sit.

His words were so strange and unexpected. It was hard to wrap my head around what he’d said, especially after focusing so hard on my sister’s dilemma. I looked at Shelley. “They’re taking an Uber.”

Then the young woman ran off toward the parking lot entrance. “There he is!” she called back to us.

Her partner reached out a hand. “Come on,” he beckoned.

We coaxed my sister over to the minivan, but her legs had stiffened up and I couldn’t get her in the back seat. The young woman jumped out of the front and offered her seat to Shelley. Finally inside, sitting in the cool vehicle, I had a chance to thank our young benefactors. I never learned the names of this young couple from Litchfield. They wouldn’t accept any money for the fare. As we got out at the main gates I realized this was one of those magical State Fair moments. A memory of kindness and goodwill to take home with us, like a prize from the Midway, or a souvenir from the Grandstand.

As the day progressed and the drama and discomfort of the morning faded, the incredible kindness and generosity of that young couple stood out for me. I looked for them all day among the crowd of 138,000 people, but of course I never saw them again. So let this be my “thank you” to those young folks from Litchfield. You not only offered physical relief in our moment of need, but a heartwarming memory of another opening day at the Minnesota State Fair.