It's that weekend again...

The weekend of the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, where, once again, I won't be going.

It's also the weekend I say, "Next year, though, I'm definitely going to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival."

But it's always something....

You will note that last year I said in a post about the Apple Blossom Festival that I would be heading for Maryland instead. But it never happened because we ended up at the House of Never-ending Construction dealing with some last minute emergency.

As a matter of fact, it's been over a decade since I was able to go to the Sheep and Wool Festival. The list of reasons has been varied:

Little League (Heir 2's team always had a Saturday and Sunday game. You'd think in 7 years, just once one of those days would be free...)

Parades (once he outgrew Little League, Heir 2 began marching band. There is always somewhere to march around here on the first weekend in May.)

Gold Cup (when I was a reporter for a local weekly I was required to cover Gold Cup like I had a clue about Steeplechase)

And this year's reason:

Prom

(where Heir 1 will make his first appearance in a tux, we hope a tasteful tux...if his girlfriend Tori picked it out, we're safe. If not...can you say "Lounge Lizard?")

Next year Heir 2 will be eligible to go to the prom and, since that will be his junior year, the next year also.

There was one magical year, though. It was back when the Heirs were toddlers. We met Da Bros at Charles Town Race Track for the Kentucky Derby (vicariously on the television, but they have mint juleps in commemorative glasses on Derby Day) -- always a great place to take the kids -- and that night went on to Frederick, Md., to a Holiday Inn Express that took dogs and had free breakfast (for people). Then we were able to get out early the next morning to hit the Sheep and Wool Festival before all the yarn was gone. (deep, nostalgic sigh.)

This year, though, Dark Garden insists we need to go here. Go ahead and ask me why....

Because he wants to see Him: