Ferris Wheel Wonder

Barnstable County Fair 

My daughter had the pleasure of experiencing the Barnstable County Fair this past summer for the first time! She had a great time enduring lots of rides as I did as well. Spinning on Hippo rides, hopping on her first junior Rollercoaster and of course riding the Ferris Wheel for the first time. She was scared, well, maybe not scared but a bit apprehensive. She is my wild child but can be cautious as well.  

As we slowly crept up into the skies of East Falmouth, not buckled up, loosely in the saucer. The mother in me, and former/recovering high anxiety human I was slowly trickled back. What if she fell out? (Obviously wouldn't happen without some crazy event). Just then we looked down and I saw a flow of people all around the fairground. I told my daughter, Layla, "Look! Everyone looks so small down there!" I cringed thinking about my earlier dark thoughts as she hovered over the saucer to peer down to the crowds. "Look mama! I see Grana!" I looked over and thought to myself there is no way she would spot her Grana out in this crowd, I am sure she is assuming a woman is her Grana when in fact she is not. I scanned the crowd. I didn't see her. I kept looking and my daughter pointed in a direction. I continued to look. "There is no way", I thought to myself. As I continued to search I spotted them! Sure enough, Grana and Papa were just below us! 

It is amazing how a child can pinpoint the loves of their lives in a crowd. Truly a gift. An attribute and talent that children have but we seem to lose through the years of getting older. The years of losing faith and confidence in ourselves. Are we born with this gift, or do we lose it along the way while we gain doubt and second thoughts or practical thinking? I could only hope to see the world through the eyes of my child. I am thankful I have her to open my mind and remind me of life's true beauty -- it's not the size of the crowd but who is in the crowd.