Tilt-a-Whirl

With it being county and state fair season, I started thinking about carnival rides. Do you remember that Tilt-a-Whirl? I think it might be renamed now. I recall my first ride was with my brother and sister at a 4th of July carnival in Minnesota. I was about 9, my sister, 8, and my brother, 7. 

At the time, I wore a headgear which was designed to align my jaw. It had a strap around the back of my neck and rubber bands attached the neck strap and the metal brace on my face by little metal hooks. The brace attached to my teeth but was removable.

Anyway, the ride operator placed me in the center of our car. My brother was on my left and my cute little sister in pigtails on my right. 

As our car twirled around independently from the other cars but also moved up and down with the other cars, my little brother started to slide down under the support bar toward my feet. I tried to grab him and hang on as we were tossed around in our car. But as I tried to reach down to him the hook on my headgear got caught in my sister’s pigtail. So her head (and body) had to follow mine as I tried to retrieve my brother from the floor of the ride. That ride lasted forever. We were hanging on for dear life as the we spun around. And with our weight all leaning in one direction, we spun faster especially when on the downside of the ride. The operator never stopped the ride even though we clearly showed signs of distress. 

The ride finally came to a stop. Not because of us, but because it was timed out. We were happy to exit. And I was so happy I didn’t lose my brother. My sister, well, she looked like she had been through the wringer. And actually, she pretty much was. As funny as it is to talk about now it was pretty scary at the time for us little kids. 

Later, my aunt and uncle rode the same ride. My aunt didn’t fare so well. I guess that’s why they strategically placed a huge trash barrel at the point of exit. 

Those are my most vivid memories of carnival rides. So I’ve never really been a fan.

Just sharing a memory this morning. Enjoy this fair season! There is so much more than carnival rides. ♥️

Andi