Swirling weightless

I grew up in a small town in New Jersey...go ahead dismantle all your preconceived notions of "what exit" New Jersey. It was cute, quaint, historic, and I grew up by a farm.

Each summer, a highlight of my childhood was the firemen's carnival in town featuring your classic carnival rides, food and games but you could also get a firetruck ride through town. We rode on the top of the truck and enjoyed the attention of onlookers when the firemen would blast the horn while going doing Main Street. My favorite ride, however, was the swing. The aluminum chair transformed into wings when the ride began swirling. I loved it most because I was weightless and free. For five tickets, it was as though life stood still for a couple of moments. No cares, insecurities or worries you catch you as you suspended in air.

Being a mother now, I look back with major concern of the safety of these rides. Namely, the Gravitron. Inside the spaceship shaped ride you stood against the wall...no seat belts, no harness, nada. However you became glued the wall when the ride started spinning at, I don't know, 500 mph? Your vinyl cushioned seat back would slide up and down, and if you were brave enough you could flip yourself upside down. Just make sure to flip right side up before it slowed down or you would crash down on your 10 year old skull. I was not one to flip. I stood still and tried not to puke, and continuously splatter my vomit on 20 friends and strangers. Seriously, how was this legal?

I miss the cool summer nights in New Jersey as I now live in Florida and going outside in the summer here warrants a PSA.  I guess it was a different time, but we had free reign over our small town. Our bikes took us to friends' houses, the local flee market, construction sites, and on other great adventures...with no helmets. My BFF and I (yes, we had the necklace and everything) had a lemonade stand and then used our earnings to go to DQ and get a blizzard after a hard day's work.

Since I was 19, my family moved away from my hometown, and now, many years later most of friends have moved away too. The town has changed and grown, but there are still a few spaces that if I squint and remember they are the same. Suddenly I'm transported back to my childhood memories and the swings - unchanged by time, free, weightless and beautiful.