early morning carnival

It's nearly impossible for me to believe that tomorrow is the first day of Spring. We are having mad mad weather this weekend. Tons of rain all day today and the wind is just howling and rattling everything from our windows to the trees. I was hoping to see that enchanted super full moon tonight but I don't think that's going to happen.

I was up bright and early this morning to drive my son to an all day science competition. On our way to the event I saw a carnival set up in a small shopping center parking lot. After I dropped him off I headed right over to it. It was still closed and completely empty. Luckily I had my camera with me this time.

The wind was blowing so hard that the candy colored flags sounded like they might rip in two. But I loved walking around the empty lot under these grey skies. All the bright colors popped even more and there was just something deliciously eerie about seeing an empty carnival right before a storm was about to roll in.

I checked to make sure there were no little fishies freezing in those little bowls!

My dad was in the Navy which meant we lived on a military base most of my childhood. One of them was in San Francisco and I remember how a carnival would come once a year for a few days. My friends and I always looked forward to it. We would ride our bikes the day they came in and watch them set up.

Most military bases had very limited places to go for fun, especially for kids. There's a very uniform and nondescript look to the entire landscape so having this magical and colorful carnival come once a year was such a glorious treat.

However, I was never a big fan of most of the rides. I had such a weak stomach that just looking at them made me nauseous (and maybe I also didn't trust them). But I always loved the whole atmosphere of a carnival. The storybook colors, the mechanical sounds of those crazy rides and the intoxicating smell of cotton candy, candy apples and buttered popcorn.

 And I liked the silly game booths, not the prizes so much but just the way they looked...the riot of banners and colors, the lively game keeper inviting you to part with your change....and the not so gourmet food that you would try to keep down if you actually got on a ride.  Even the slightly seedy reputation associated with old carnivals was part of it's curious charm. It was like stepping into another world which was always gone much too soon.

I only had a few minutes to snap these pictures and reminisce before big drops of rain started to fall. But what a lovely surprise I had this Saturday morning. It brought back a few warm memories and reminded me of why I find a carnival and circus so fascinating.

Happy First Day of Spring!