Archive for May, 2009

“I remember the first time I rode like it was yesterday,” my mother said, with a soft and reminiscent smile spreading across her face. The scent of buttered popcorn, hot dogs, and cotton candy permeated the air filling our senses with a torrent of whimsical childhood memories. As we stood and stared,  deeply entrenched in the nostalgic moment, a breeze blew ever so gently from the north, allowing the scent of the lake and the sand to invade our nostrils.

The sound of the motor humming in the background mixed with pipe organ music and the laughter of children nearly put us in a trance. We were taken aback, transported to another time, long long ago. It was a simultaneous déjà vu between mother and daughter as we watched my little girl spin around and around on a kaleidoscope of colors, rising and falling to a tune that resonated within our psyche.

We stood and watched her, both quiet and wistful, as she flew around and around with her golden ponytail flying behind her in the wind and her sun-kissed face beaming from ear to ear in unparalleled excitement. She waved breathlessly each time we came into view blowing us kisses and squealing with delight.

I looked over at my mother and watched her face intently – the scene captivated her. There she was, all these years later – she was a mother, a grandmother, and a great grandmother – yet in her heart, at that very moment, she was a daughter, a sister, and a beautiful golden haired little girl. As she gazed at her granddaughter riding the pony up and down, she remembered the first time she rode the carousel…like it was yesterday.

We were mother and daughter - both experiencing the same vicarious thrill while watching her ride. We too could feel the wind in our hair and see the smiling faces in the crowd.  Every time the pony went up and down, we remembered the wonderful feeling of being on top of the world.

As if the years had disappeared…there we were on that beautiful holiday weekend… three generations of carousel riders – in the same historic amusement park, in the same wonderful town of my youth – as if time had taken us back.   Life had come full circle in a beautiful spinning kaleidoscope of color.

Copyright, Sharie Peters Parker, 2009, All Rights Reserved

Image by xlordashx

Throughout the years they wrote the song – the words sung quietly

Their lives a constant parallel – a certain destiny

Though worlds apart they still remain – the distance far and wide

The music played within their souls – their hearts forever tied

Then suddenly the beat turned down  – his part no longer played

And finally the music stopped  – and the song began to fade

Someone else now takes her place – a place for only she

His heart now sings a different song - for he let the notes go free

Forever she played the melody – he sang the harmony

Now all that’s left of that special song – is a lonely soliloquy

She’ll pen her words on paper - and let her heart sing loud and clear

No need for understanding now – for there is no one to hear

She’ll keep the tempo going strong - never letting it fade away

One day he’ll hear the familiar sound – and remember the song they played

Copyright Sharie Peters Parker, 2009, All rights reserved