It's county fair and carnival time again - at the proper time of year, not Winter, like Victoria (seriously, Victoria,WTF?) No, it's after a long hot summer that communities traditionally gather to judge each other's vegetables, sheep and pies. Also to blow wads of cash on midway games.
After visiting the petting zoo and the art display (where my son took home first prize - congratulations L.!) we rushed to hit our favorite part, the carnival.
One may reasonably wonder why, at my advanced age, I'm still enamored of thrill rides. Well, there's no instantly transformative experience like defying gravity. The moment I think I'm too old for carnival rides will be the moment I'm officially no fun any more. You might as well pack it in.
Anyway, it's hard to be miserable when you're whirling around in a giant teacup.
I do love carnivals for other reasons though, something more Bradbury-esque. Just at the time when the year begins to wind down, this strange, transient world appears under cover of darkness. It's all light and color and noise, when the day before it was only dusty ground. It's like a portal of sorts, into something most unusual.
And even if you aren't trapped forever, the mirror maze will force you to confront your mortal image...
A beautifully thoughtful post as always. It's true that this time of year is when things start to feel strange and sometimes otherworldly. The veil grows thin indeed...
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