I was newly arrived in Columbus for my first “real job” as a mathematician. I immediately made up an Ohio State University riddle: Point to the nearest nuclear reactor. It was in the building across the street from the Math Department.
I went to the Ohio State Fair.
The Ohio State Fair’s claim to shame was that they had blacklisted The Weavers back in the McCarthy days. They had booked The Weavers as a headline act, but when they arrived the Fair wouldn’t let them go on.
Nonetheless, I went to the Fair. I saw this and saw that. I ate popcorn. I had an ear of corn. There was a Black dame walking around with the a bullwhip. I smiled at her and held the ear of corn up. “Can you hit this?”
“Hey, you’re alright.” She eyed the corn, took aim. And lowered her arm. “I don’t trust myself.” We smiled and parted.
There was a stand taking computer photos and printing them on things. It was a bit new-fangled. Buttons, mugs, I don’t know what all. They’d print your face in the oval of a giant cloth million dollar bill, and it could say something under your face. I committed art.
