If I've been to the PNE, then it's the end of summer

I absolutely love the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition - as opposed to the CNE - Canadian National Exhibition that is located in Toronto which some people (obviously those that haven't been to the west coast) still believe is the centre of the world).

We would drive to Vancouver from Prince George (10 hours, in a vehicle, before they invented portable DVD players) before crossing the Port Mann bridge that told us we had arrived - at which time I turned off the radio, told the kids to NOT say a word, and proceeded to get lost on the way to my mother's apartment (and yes, I have absolutely no sense of direction even though I had been going there for years, and that is another story). Once there the car would be parked and we would walk or take the bus to wherever we were going because there was NO possible way anyone can drive and find their way around the city (I do ok now because I've lived here for 14 years).

We would go to the beach, go shopping at Pacific Centre Mall but the highlight, always, was going to the PNE. In those days it was a real carnival atmosphere and we loved it. The kids would hand over their tickets to the grubby carnie workers and ride every ride they could. We'd eat greasy hamburgers, mini donuts, cotton candy and drink lemonade. It was summer bliss! We'd stumble back on the bus around midnight and arrive back at my mom's, three kids on a sugar high and her in a high-rise apartment!

And now the best part of summer? Going to the PNE with the grandkids (who make the trek down from Prince George, 10 hours, in a vehicle with a built-in DVD player). They are real troupers who can eat everything, ride every ride, see every show and stumble home around midnight - just the way I like it!

And yes, the adult kids still tag along - but we leave Doug at home. He just doesn't feel the magic the way that we feel it....