Riding the Carousel of Happiness in the Mountains



"Come in and find your joy," the sign out front said.  What in the world, I thought.  Another mountain town tourist trap.  What a re they selling?  Doggone, if it wasn't actually a place of joy.








 "A man from our town," the ticket taker told me proudly, a little old lady.   "Most of our riders are adults,"  she told us.  "Don't be embarrased."
The Story of the Swan Girl is in the Revolving Mirrors



A little old man brought a step step stool to give us a needed boost.   We wanted to ride on the painted ponies that went up and down.  Actually, a sheep in my case and a goose in Jesse's.  There was only one pony.  You could ride a dolphin or a peacock, a leopard or an ape.  No wonder it took him 25 years to finish the carving the one of a kind creatures.


Added Attraction:  Puppet Theatre



It was worth the one dollar for a taste of childhood joy, a drift of memory of the ecstasy of the merry-go-round, even with no brass ring to chase.

Hi-Ho, Silver!