Someone was having a ball. It sounded like a young woman, or a girl, I couldn't really tell. Her screams intensified as the gravity gave her that my-stomach-has-now-fallen-to-my-toes feeling. For me, I don't know what would be more harrowing: the feeling that carnival ride would give me, or the rickety nature of the ride itself. Adrenaline, and lots of it!
The gypsy carnival has rolled into town once again, parking its long-suffering machinery in the parking lot of the vacated Winn Dixie grocery store across the street from my neighborhood. They must have gotten there in the middle of the night, because there was no sign of them about 9 p.m. the night before (when me and the dog take our evening stroll). Last time, the weather was cold and rainy. This time, there's the regular threat of a springtime thunderstorm, but it's Easter weekend and the school district's waning days of Spring Break. Ah, the fun ...
Step right this way! Accelerated gravity for sale! Flashing lights! Popping noises! 1980s hair rock blasted into your ears! Two dollars! Hope you have life insurance! Sorry son, you must be THIS TALL before you can be strapped into our GONDOLAS OF DEATH! Try the merry-go-round there, Opie. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Limited time only! Win a stuffed green ape when you throw a razor-sharp dart at our wall of multicolor, polymer balloons! See the bearded lady, who has to shave twice a day just so you can see her lips! Win a prize! Have some fun! Spend, spend, spend.
Five reasons to attend the carnival:
1. It's surreal to see a place where you normally did something mundane like load bags of groceries into your car become The Land of Fun.
2. It's hard not to have fun in such an environment that does nothing but feed the fun parts of our brains.
3. Nearly dying is sometimes fun. Look at people who skydive, bungee jump, climb tall mountains or drink water right out of the tap.
4. What good is money if you don't use some of it to have a good time?
5. It's a good way to meet some of your neighbors, who had the same idea you had: have some fun.
Five reasons not to attend the carnival:
1. In these tough economic times, is it worth spending a few bucks on getting hurled around on The Gravitator until your $3 corny dog decides to make an encore appearance on your shirt?
2. Fun is like a drug: the more you have, the more you want. When will it end?
3. With only one life to live, I'd rather not end up at General Hospital just to ride the Body Blaster. I want to be around for all my children as the world turns. I'm not ready to see that guiding light just yet. These are the days of my life! And it's often bold and beautiful!
4. What good is money if you're not alive to spend it? Or you'll have to eat future corny dogs through a straw?
5. Many of my neighbors are scary people who only come out at night. Hold on to your wallets and hide your daughters!
But hey, I'm no party pooper. Meet me at the merry-go-round. I'll buy the tickets!
Tina
6 years old: puking beside the Octopus ride while my Dad rubbed my back
7 years old: puking beside the Octopus ride while my Dad rubbed my back
8 years old: puking beside the Octopus ride while my Dad rubbed my back
haha
the smell of grease, carny scum and stale vomit are my carnival memories
i smelled it...saw it...and felt it through that post. wow...haven't thought of the gypsy carnival in a while. made me think of kissing boys behind rides too!!!
just stopped to say the child in the picture below is ADORABLE! :) ....as for carnivals... though by sayin this i'm going to put my self in the minority...i love em!