When Real Life Invades Your Creative Space

For five weeks in the fall we run food concession stands at two different fairs: the Maryland State Fair and the Frederick Fair, also in Maryland. We hand-roll soft pretzels from sunup until after sundown; we sell shoo-fly pies and whoopie pies and ham and cheese sandwiches; we have fun; we work our tails off.

These five weeks provide my family with a s…