CARNIVAL !!!

At about 9 p.m., I took a short walk down to the
local carnival. On the 3rd weekend in September, our catholic church...St.
Johns...puts on their annual Applefest.
 
At 9 a.m., runners and walkers whizzed by our
house...in the Applefest road race. 6.2 miles(10k), or a 3.1 (5k) course. Only
the smaller one comes by our house. I usually get up early...back my van to the
edge of the driveway...and serenade or blast them with the theme from Chariots
of Fire, and the theme from Rocky. This year I was too lazy to have it prepared,
so they did without my musical assistance.
 
Twenty years ago...we almost hated to see this
weekend show up. At first...our kids would beg for us to take them. Later...they
would beg to go by themselves. Twenty years has seen quite a change in the
carnivals appearance. It seems like back then...the attendant on the ride hadn't
seen a shower or a washing machine in weeks. "Hey mister...can I help your
young'en up into the ride?" It made me shudder. We would bring them home, and
give them an all-over Lysol spray. Now...it seems like the carnival owners have
wised up, and cleaned up.
 
It's fun to see families out enjoying themselves,
and teen-agers being teen-agers. The tents on the left are filled with food
goodies. Hundreds of apple pies, apple cider and doughnuts, tacos, home-made
french fries, and chili supposedly made by the priest of the parish. I took only
pictures, and ate nothing.