Every year that I go to the Fair with my office, I win something for my son Alfred. The first year I won a giant Nemo, then a giant Scooby Doo with a ghost in his mouth, a giant Grover, a giant pug and this year I won a one-eyed Minion from Despicable Me.

Yesterday, Hilary and I took Alfred to the Fair for the first time. We saw how cows get milked, we had lunch in front of the Cotton Bowl, saw the bird show, played games, rode rides and had a great time. And before we left, I won a two-eyed Minion for Alfred, while he watched me climb the ladder. It was a pretty perfect day.

About 35 years ago my dad built one of these in our backyard, after our vacation in Myrtle Beach where we saw one at a carnival there. I remember all the kids in my neighborhood learning to climb that thing in our back yard. I don’t know if any of those guys can still do it, but I know my brother and I can.  We also learned how to ride a unicycle in the backyard. It was all fun and we learned a lot about balance. That’s helped me in my life, that’s why I started Black Lab Creative with Chad, Brett and John – to get some balance between work and family back.

I think I’ll build one for my son Alfred, teach him about balance. The girls he’ll meet later in life will like it if he can balance as he climbs the ladder too, because that’s where the big prizes are – literally and probably figuratively as well.