Fair sign, next year, NS Fairgrounds

With the emergence of the deer flies and other sanguivorous members of the dipteran family Tabanidae, I'm increasingly likely to trade my walks for bike rides, if for no other reason than I can usually out-pedal the damned biting insects, with their hacksaw-like mouth parts. My usual route, which right now is about eight miles long—it'll increase as I get into better bike shape—takes me by the town fair grounds, which, sadly, are now empty, even though by tradition, the North Stonington Agricultural Fair should have started in earnest today. The COVID-19-mandated loss is painful, far worse than a deer fly bite, but necessary. Not having the fair is also frightening, since the venerable institution was not that financial secure, so you have to wonder about its future. Worry not: on the fair grounds, I noticed a sign with the dates for next year. That's balm for the beleaguered spirit. Now, if we can only get the coronavirus to behave.