Sanpete had a big finish for the county fair this past weekend. The nights of rodeo, Mammoth Parade, and the demolition derby were the big events that completed this year’s fair.

The “Mammoth Parade” has often been a source of wondering for me. At one point, I wondered if the replica mammoth skeleton in the Fairview Museum had anything to do with it.

I’ve thought, “Shouldn’t they “Gorilla Tape” that thing down on a parade float and drag it up and down the parade route?” Then we could all get a good look at what awesome wildlife used to roam this area.

We could put the county commissioners in “paleolithic costumes” (cave man, I suppose) and have them hold spears as they stand near the mammoth. I think this is developing into a great idea.

As good of an idea as that is, what I really discovered is that we in Sanpete know how to describe things in interesting ways. Besides the word “mammoth” meaning a big, shaggy, prehistoric elephant, it also means enormous, massive, gigantic, colossal, etc. Those are the type of words we’re getting at when we announce we’re having a “Mammoth Parade.”

I do hope that Sanpete forgives me for sneaking away for the last couple of days of the fair. Something came up. My oldest son got married.

Getting married was fine. In fact, it was fabulous. But, why couldn’t he and his fiancé have arranged to have the ceremony at the fairgrounds in Sanpete – perhaps in the arena between heats of the demolition derby? (Wouldn’t that be every bride’s dream wedding?)

I would think that the “powers that be” would have accommodated that wedding request. Maybe there would have been the expectation that the happy couple would have been required to provide soda pop and hamburgers for everyone in attendance. I don’t know.

As it was, last Friday evening I found myself standing with my back about 20 “short” feet from a sheer cliff with a longgg drop-off. I was facing my handsome son Jackson and his beautiful bride Amy with a small crowd of wedding guests.

I was officiating in accordance with the laws of the State of Utah for the marriage. Where were we? – Dead Horse Point State Park in southeastern Utah, not far from Moab. (They issue special use permits for weddings out there)

Dead Horse Point was made into a State Park in 1959. The views and vistas are stunning. If you’re into movie trivia, this is the place where Tom Cruise was free solo climbing during the opening scene of “Mission: Impossible 2”

Apparently, the studio didn’t want to do the scene because of safety concerns. Cruise insisted on the spectacular entrance scene for his character. It was done with no safety net, but with a harness and thin wire.

Doing my “scene,” I felt like I should have had a secured, thick rope around my ankle. That would have been for the possibility of a sudden gust of wind deciding to blow me off into the Colorado River 2000 feet below.

But, once I got started with the ceremony, my worries for my personal safety subsided. I then had other worries – like whether I was going to melt into a puddle of emotion.

We were proud parents for the occasion, like so many of you Sanpeters are for these milestone events in life. It’s a one of a kind feeling to witness the creation of a new family involving one’s own child.

It’s exciting. Bonus excitement is that Amy brings with her into the family a seven-year-old son. As you can tell, we’re pleased as can be for this event in our family.

So, if you wondered where I was over the weekend, now you know. Next year, I’ll be eating corndogs and nachos on those fair nights. Unless, of course, somebody feels like they want to buy my ticket to Honolulu or somewhere to get married or to renew their vows.

In that case, I’ll dust off my wedding ceremony script and get the legal paperwork done. The “Fern Grotto” on Kauai would be a great spot. Think about it. — Merrill

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