I'm often flabbergasted when I hear people say, "I've only been to one circus..." "I've never been to a circus..." "I've been to one or two carnivals..." I nearly fall over and grab my chest! Something many may not know, and something that may explain why exactly I'm insane, is that carnivals and circuses are in my blood! If I had to estimate, I'd say I've been to at least thirty circuses in my life, possibly more...and likely twice as many carnivals...Back to circuses though, my family would religiously go, as it was a tradition my grandpa Sorrill passed down to my dad, and my dad in turn passed it onto my sister and myself. Our family has been to the birthday of a circus owner, we've eaten with the performers, watched setup and some tear down, and I have played with the performers children.
Some of my HAPPIEST memories were going to the fair grounds and watching with my dad and sister as the large trucks unloaded their precious cargo. I can remember the way the heavy tarp tent was pulled and stretched and laid out. The smell of the elephants as they pulled the poles to bring the tent to life! It was majestic to see something flat and unmoving come to life before my very eyes! With the tents set up, we'd always visit the animals, and an elephant ride was a MUST! In the evening the show would start, and my eyes would behold magnificent acts from around the world. People in glittering costumes, women, slender and beautiful perched upon the back of the magnificent elephants with feathers perched in their hair! It was mesmerizing. Even today when I hear the tired old story "This is the FIRST time we're doing this!" brings a smile to my face! This old story that was supposedly new every circus, pertained to the selling of peanuts, and in those bags one had the chance of finding a glorious ticket! Whenever we opened those bags and found a ticket, it was reminiscent of Willy Wonka! With that ticket, the children were called to the middle of the tent to claim their prize! A ginormous circus balloon! Usually the balloons didn't make it home, but the glee of having that masterful piece of rubber in my hands was like holding the Holy Grail! Of course no circus was complete without goodies! The smell and taste of the fresh popcorn, the sweet warm cotton candy melting into my mouth, the cold delicious snow cones that would drip down my hand and chin leaving me with a colored chin and tongue! It seemed magical under that giant tent. I still remember being given knicknacks from the circus, generally a light toy, my all time favorite was a plastic tube with a plastic snowglobe type object on top with silver glitter inside and an elephant on top, when one lit it up, the colors would change and bounce off the silver enchanting my young mind! After the circus, and before heading home, we would go hunting for circus posters and circus arrows! These were our spoils of war! Taking them from fences, and the outsides of buildings after the show was over was glorious! If we made it home early, my sister and I ALWAYS headed straight to the swing set after a circus to work on our own circus. We were quite good, especially me having no formal training. I like to say I was the youngest circus owner ever! I would watch with glee The Greatest Show on Earth! I would then climb onto the back of the couch, grab a blue blanket and pretend I was riding an elephant. I would smile and wave to my imaginary audience and move as though I really were riding an elephant. After becoming bored with that, I would take an extra wand from the blinds and pretend to be a lion tamer! Its easy to see why I'm the way I am huh?
Now that I have jabbered on about circuses, I think its time to move onto carnivals! Dad would take us to almost every carnival within sixty miles of home. In a year we would generally go to New Berlin, Sangamon County, Morgan County, and the State Fair. Being an odd child to begin with, I was a rider! I loved trying the new rides. My first favorite was The Dragon Wagon! Yes the Dragon Wagon, the children's version of a terrifyingly wonderful roller coaster! I almost NEVER left that ride...The feeling I would get as we started, and hit the first bump and slid down was something I can never fully describe. It seems so silly now, but I believed that ride was the epitome of the carnival!
The Dragon Wagon!
Though my sister had outgrown this ride, I still loved it! Now that was NOT the extent of my riding career though, oh no! My sister and I's other favorite ride was The Hurricane! A ride whose arms would rise slowly into the air, with one car at the end of each, and once in the air the entire ride would spin gleefully! Most young children would be horrified by such a thing, but I ate it up!
The Hurricane!
Another Michele and Christina favorite was The Octopus! It has been SO many years since my sister and I were able to ride The Octopus, I've almost forgotten what it's like...I believe the arms go up and each one spins on its own but I could be wrong...
The Octopus!
Now for the rider with some stones, Wipeout was INCREDIBLE! This ride was GREAT! It started flat, then slowly began to spin, picking up until it was completely on its side!
Hahaha! Wipeout!
The Ferris Wheel was a cool down ride that dad, Michele and I always rode! The line was always long but so worth the wait...Gliding up slowly and being able to see the entire fair from the top was an incredible feeling! I assume everyone has seen a ferris wheel so I won't post that.
Michele and I loved 1001 Nachts! Now that is a classic! But you've got to ride in the front! You are locked into your seat which is positioned on a giant fiberglass magic carpet. The ride begins by swaying to one side, then the other, until eventually its going in circles!
1001 Nachts!
The Scrambler is another personal favorite! The ride that spins and pushes the cars to the very brink of the gates! I have advice though, if you ride this be sure to have the largest person riding on the OUTSIDE, gravity forces the riders to the outside of the car.
The Scrambler!
Tilt-A-Whirl is another FANTASTIC ride! If you have the chance though, and love spinning, make sure to ride with a larger person...If you have someone who is heavy, or a heavy car you'll spin like a top! When spinning, you'll feel like you're glued to the back of the seat and it is incredible!
Tilt-A-Whirl
We have the wonderful swings! Not really a thrill ride, but a wonderful way to cool down, and enjoy a breathtaking view!
I now come to the GLORIOUS Gravitron! This is INTENSE! You walk into an alien space craft like ride, and stand against a wall. Eventually the ride begins to spin, pinning the rider to the wall, and honestly, it feels like the floor gives out as you spin into oblivion!
Now the Tornado ride is hard to explain. One can spin if they like, I prefer to not spin. Anyway, the rider is whisked into the air and swung in their car and as they come down, they are whipped around making it seem as though the car will crash into the very ground!
The Tornado!
There is another ride I thoroughly enjoy! This ride I can't name, and can't find a picture of...The main premise is that the rider lays down on their tummy, and the simulation is that of parasailing. The ride flies up and comes back down making the rider feel as though they are flying!
There is ONE ride I will NEVER ride again...I chose to ride this when I was young and was scarred for life by it! It was Michele's favorite ride...::Ominous music plays...:: The Zipper...
I have NEVER gotten sick on a ride, but THIS ride, this ride almost made me sick...I had to take a little nap in the van after riding this evil thing...
I think its obvious now, that I'm an insane carnival rider and I LOVE IT! Carnivals have a special place in my heart, a way of bonding with my dad and sister while screaming at the top of my lungs!
Well I'm getting a little sleepy, and feel as though I'm babbling so I'll cut this post off before I'm told to shut up hehe. Hope you enjoyed delving into my insanity!
Love,
Christina
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