Carnivals

When i was a kid, going to the Carnival was the best thing ever!  I could not wait to get from the car to the rides and it seemed like the adults would go soooo slooooowww and i could not understand why they could not keep up with me.  I wanted to ride every ride and play every game and top the night off with a bag of cotton candy.  Well now I'm the adult trying to keep up with two older boys while my husband struggles with the double stroller holding the toddlers.  It sucks getting older...I did not realize how slow I have become.  

Going to the carnival these days is stressful but also fun.  The fun part is watching the kids have a good time on the rides, watching their face light up when they play a game and win a prize.  Walking through the crowds is the most stressful part of the whole event for me.  There are people everywhere and all bunched together, my eye's are glued to my kid's backs as they rush through the crowd excitedly making their way to the next ride.   I am one of those people that are so busy keeping a hawks eye on my kids and whoever is near them,  that i am completely oblivious to those around me.   I have ran into a few people in my day and I get frustrated because my brain is saying "where did they come from" and they are probably thinking "she needs to watch where she is going".  

When did carnival's become so darn expensive.  I blew like $80 at a carnival on some crap i could have bought at a dollar tree for $6.  My mom paid $5 for a cup of soda at the carnival...the drink was put in a reusable cup so i guess she got her money's worth because she got to keep the cup.  I won't complain too much though because it was totally worth it to watch my kids have fun playing games and riding the rides...the excited look in their eye was priceless so i won't complain too much.  I remember hearing stories from the elders about how things would cost a nickle.  The economy is so rough these days, even the carnies have to up their prices...but we all have to make a living.    

My favorite thing about the carnival is the cotton candy and funnel cake.  It seems like the carnival is the only place that can make those two things taste that good.  I have tried cotton candy from the store and it is just not the same.  The other thing I like about the carnival is the music, they are always playing some good music and they blast it really loud from the coolest ride.  I had a hard time not busting a move in the middle of the crowd, because me and my little ones LOVE to dance!  My two year old was in the stroller bopping to the beat, it made me really happy to see.  

Carnival's came about in the late 1800's and boy would they put on a show.  The traveling carnival's had magic shows, freak shows, burlesque shows, and palm readers.  Of course back then people did not take kindly to those types of shows so that part of the carnival was dropped.  I am sure there are carnival's somewhere that still offer the full on carnival showcase.  But where I live, the carnival's are rides and game booths and food venders.  There is something magical at a carnival...I remember how it felt when i was a kid...it was like the whole night was kissed with magic.  The lights, the laughter, the excitement in the air from riding the rides....just a beautiful energy coming from everyone that makes a magical moment.  That moment makes carnival time a thing to anticipate...no matter how much you end up spending or how tired you are from chasing kids around all night...you are going to be there again next year!

Carnival time...good stuff.