The Carousel
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Growing up here in New York City, one of my favorite things to do was ride the carousel in Central Park. I remember going round and round, up and down, to the colorful music, the steel gates and green trees blurring by. I remember laughing so much.
This past weekend when I was flying solo with the girls, I decided that we would take a trip to the carousel. The big girls were pumped. I prayed that their car sickness would not translate to carousel sickness. Thankfully, all was good.
I placed each of my girls on her own horse and buckled them both in. I stood in the middle of them, my hands grazing the small of their backs as we traveled round and round. From time to time, each would try to proclaim independence and brush my hand off, but I put it back. And they let me.
Their smiles were grand and wonder was plain in their blue eyes. Their golden hair shimmied in the breeze. I asked them what their nice horses were named. Baby said Ella. (All of Baby’s animals are named Ella.) Toddler said Horsey. Then Baby said hers was in fact named Horsey too.
Baby evinced her bizarre and irresistible sense of humor, stroking her horse’s faux-mane, and saying, “Mommy, so fluffy!”
Toddler insisted we go again and again. And so we did. And as we did, as I held on to my little girls, I wondered which horses I used to ride on when I was their size.
Finally, I got them off their respective Horseys by promising them a treat. Thankfully, there was a nice man outside selling Italian ices. We stood there as he told us all the flavors… Cherry, Grape, Lemon, Mango, Rainbow… and Super Rainbow. Guess what the girls picked? Yes, Super Rainbow. I plopped them on a bench in the shade and watched them as they scarfed their brightly colored concoctions with true delight and deliberation. I snapped a picture of their dangling feet.
Before heading home with my rainbow-mustached babes, I took another picture. Of the trees and the sun and the day. It was a glorious day. A perfect day.
One I hope they will remember. I certainly will.
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What were some of your favorite activities as a child? Do you hope to do these activities with your own kiddos one day?
My favourite activities were skipping and hopscotch, of which my daughter did as she grew up and my son also skipped.
I then turned my attention to reading and still do to this day, as if it’s going out of fashion. Once again a great post!
Looks like a great day! I love (what I presume is) Baby’s chubby legs. So sweet! Cheers to you for taking time to appreciate the small joyful moments!!
there was a carousel near my dad’s office when i was a little girl. during summer we’d go in and visit him for an ice cream cone and a trip around the carousel. i hadn’t thought of those days in years and years but, as i read your post, i was instantly transported back. thanks for the reminder of the good little moments.
Spelunking was always fun.
Sounds like a wonderful outing! I bet they will remember and cherish this as they get older!
I wonder who, when given the choice between Rainbow and Super Rainbow, would pick plain old Rainbow?
Sounds like a perfect day!
Mine was always the zoo. I just LOVE watching animals! I could do it for hours! I took Wee ‘Burb to the zoo last year, but she was too little I think. I’m hoping this year is different and she will connect all the animals she’s learning at daycare to the ones she sees at the zoo.
I’m sure your girls will remember an adventure like that — especially with the rainbow Italian ice! My dad often jokes that the memories I recall best from childhood involve food.
He’s totally right. One of my favorite memories is eating Mickey Mouse-shaped ice cream on a stick at Disney World with my sister. She was probably three and I was six, the boldest of the big kids. There’s a photo of my sis with a dark chocolate mustache, beaming as bright as can be. That’s the magic (and innocence) of childhood.