Deli Items & Floating Hats

I was walking down Easton Road in Glenside, PA after purchasing some deli items at O'Neill's Market... 

... 1/4 lb of Boar's Head Liverwurst, 1/2 lb of Boar's Head Ovengold Roasted Turkey, three Amoroso rolls, and two small containers: one of coleslaw, the other potato salad... when I came across a negative lying on the pavement. No, it wasn't a handwritten note saying, "Those pants make you look fat" or some other less than positive comment. It was a real negative, actual film, rarely seen today since everything has gone digital.

I hesitated... pick it up? ... or leave it and walk away?

Now what? ... do I keep it? ... or put it back on the ground where I found it?

With an umbrella in one hand, (predictions for a heavy downpour at any moment), a bagful of deli items and the negative in the other, I weighed all things and headed home.

It was now close to 2PM and my stomach was grumbling loud enough to disturb the neighbors. Intrigued with my 'find', I chose curiosity over hunger, put the deli items in the 'fridge' for later, and held my negative up to the window for some light and a quick peek.

The images appeared to be snapshots of some sort of family gathering. It's hard to read negatives, especially colored ones, where the colors have no correlation to the actual colors in real life. There were two people holding drink glasses in one photo, four people grouped together in a vertical pose in another, and smack in between both shots, was this picture of a seated man and... what looked like a floating hat! Really... A Floating Hat!

I can't say for sure what event these people were celebrating, but I strongly doubt the photos were taken during a magic show.

Ooooo... magic!

Remember Harry Houdini?

He fascinated me. Years ago, I read several books on Houdini and viewed a few films. It wasn't so much his tricks that intrigued me, but how he lived his life and magically reinvented himself. Born in Budapest, Hungary as Erik Weisz, later Americanized to Ehrich Weiss, claiming to be born in Appleton Wisconsin, he transformed himself from a poor immigrant, working as a messenger and garment cutter in a necktie factory, into Harry Houdini, the world's greatest stunt performer and escape artist of all time.

So when Michael and I found ourselves in Scranton, PA for a day, back in 2004, with no plans and time to kill, we were thrilled to learn that a Houdini Museum existed in town at 1433 North Main Avenue, but a little disappointed when we found it to be a small converted house in a residential area.

The museum wasn't what we expected nor was the policy of having to conjure up a magic word along with the price of admission in order to gain entrance into the premise, which from the lobby, looked and felt like someone's private home.

Hmmm... do we stay? ... or do we leave?

Unsure of our surroundings and circumstance, I timidly played along whereas Michael remained silent. 'Abracadabra' was my buzzword, "a fine choice", I was told by our female cashier. And with the words 'Open Sesame' delivered, either by me or acquiesced by Michael, doors swiftly opened and we were ushered into a small theatre, which soon became filled with patrons.

After a short movie on Houdini, a magic show was next. I was just getting comfortable in my seat when I was whisked on stage to become part of the act. This was not a good thing. I'm definitely more of a 'behind the scenes' type person... someone who can paint a good backdrop, but not memorize a script or perform in front of an audience. I have no idea why this magician, who also happened to be our cashier, would choose me. It certainly wasn't for my knowledge of magic, for which I had little, or originality of anything I said, unless 'Abracadabra' was the secret word of the day. Suddenly, I had flashbacks to my grade school days of silly costumes and forgotten lines. This was definitely not good.

Turns out the attractive magician / cashier was Dorothy Dietrich, famous in her own right, sometimes called the first lady of magic and the female Harry Houdini by other magicians. Here's Dorothy...

Before I could even say the magic word 'no'... Poof! my legs were moving like one of the 'Rockettes' while my arms waved some cloth, a wand, and a black hat. 'Shazam'... out of nowhere, there was a flutter of wings. Birds spontaneously appeared... live doves!!!... or maybe 'dove' singular.

The details are sketchy. It has been eight years. Unfortunately, the things I tend to remember most clearly are the embarrassing moments and luckily, for me, this was not one of them. I quite enjoyed myself and so did Michael, who was surprised and amazed with my 'hocus-pocus' routine and thankful to be seated during the performance and not on stage. In fact, the whole museum experience... movie, magic act, artifacts and history, photos, souvenirs and hospitality of the owners was absolutely magical!

Speaking of magical, 'Abracadabra' isn't gibberish as I once thought. I learned online, from Rabbi Matt Cutler, that it's an Aramaic phrase, avra kehdabra, and means, "I will create as I speak" or "I will create as I have spoken" and is used by a magician as a continuation of his appeal to suspend logic, as if to say, "Watch me do something unbelievable because I said I would".

Also unbelievable and coincidental, is that just two days before finding the mysterious negative on the street with the image of the floating hat, I found this great children's book in the library written and illustrated  by D. B. Johnson called 'Magritte's Marvelous Hat' based on the life and work of Surrealist Rene' Magritte.

Here is an image of the author / illustrator along with images from his book.

Here is a portrait of the artist Rene' Magritte and two of his works.

Notice the floating hats?

And these distinctive white 'ghost hats'... some 4,000 of them, part of an installation, created by the Japanese design firm Nendo to give contrast to the masterfully crafted hats by the famous milliner Aiko Hirata whose works were being shown in a retrospective exhibition at spiral Garden in Tokyo.

Enough on hats, except to clarify one thing... one big thing. That hat on the negative I picked up of the family gathering, upon closer inspection, while having a liverwurst sandwich with mayo on a roll with some deli slaw and potato salad on the side, wasn't 'floating' at all. Turns out the hat was being balanced on top of a stair railing and only appeared to float above the seated man's head.

Hmmm...'Smoke and Mirrors'... it's all magic to me.

Here are a few links you might find interesting:

Some hat facts here and here with a hat quiz here.

Some hat videos and more by Hat Academy here.

And well worth the trip if you're ever near Scranton, PA, the Houdini Museum here.

'Hats off' to me for completing my 12th post for this blog... Yea!!!

When was the last time you took your 'hat off' to yourself for something you did or were surprised by something you found... maybe while walking down a street?

Here's my idea of a magic hat.

Here's Michael's

T'hat's all for now. 

Lists & A Farewell To Summer

Are you a list maker?

Do you rely on lists to get you through the day, or do you do it for the satisfaction of knowing you've accomplished something, and get great pleasure from crossing out, checking off, and highlighting completed items on sheets of paper or deleting them from your tech devices?... maybe all of the above.

If not... I'm curious, how are you managing your life?

I make lists of all kinds, and often... but less so during the summer months when the days are (s)low and expectations even lower.

I have lists for lots of things like... 'Running Errands', though there's no running involved.

'To Do' lists... of tasks that need to be completed in a span of a day or two, sometimes longer, depending on my energy level.

'Grocery' lists and 'Take Out Food' lists.

Then there are 'Book' lists of possible publications to read and 'DVD' lists of movies I'd like to see.

I keep 'Idea' lists for creative projects and prompts for writing. Some pieces I've started and titled: 'Drinks & Strangers', 'Deli Items & Floating Hats', and 'Hook Lines & Famous People'. Other ideas are like vapors, floating in my head, collected now on paper so I can recall them when needed... topics like: happiness, boredom, possessions, obsessions, maps and directions, (my lack of deciphering them), and so much more.

I also create 'Pros and Cons' lists whenever I can't make up my mind between two situations or things, and 'Gratitude' lists for when I begin to feel sorry for myself and need reminding of how truly fortunate I am.

I guess you either make lists or you don't. But if you are like me, you know you're a real 'list junkie' when you add things to your 'To Do' list, that you've just completed, that weren't there originally, but now you can check them off and say they're done!

Done also, or nearly done, are the days of summer.

While summer isn't officially over until Friday, September 21, 2012, the signs of the changing season are upon us... shelves brimming with school supplies, lunchbox snacks filling the end caps in supermarkets, department store ads everywhere for back -to- school sales, and Labor Day just around the corner.

For those of you already pining for the 'lazy, hazy' days, I've compiled a list for you, in picture form, of found images... remembrances of summer, which can be used as reference when the days get shorter and the nights a bit longer, when the sweltering heat and skimpy outfits give way to colder temps that have us bundled up in thermal layers, of down-filled jackets or polar fleece hats and gloves, when dark comes early and the daily pace of life for many becomes more frenetic, when we've forgotten how to relax and have to remind ourselves, sometimes with lists, that we need to... breathe.

Here is my 'Farewell to Summer' list for you.

Here are a few links on 'lists' you might find interesting: 

'Lists of Note' found here. Found grocery lists here. And '1000 Awesome Things' viewed here.

What things will you miss most about summer? Send me your list.

 Don't think too hard...just send me a quick note. Ha ha.

Summer, 'Dog Days' & Pets

Woof! Woof! It's hot! The 'Dog Days' of summer are once again upon us. Named after Sirius, meaning 'scorching', it was once believed that the star's heat combined with the heat of the sun, created the hottest of weather, making us feel sometimes irritable, often lazy, and just plain... 'dog tired'.

In his book, "Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm", author Jon Katz moans... "I understand why the Romans blames Sirius, The Dog Star, for the greatest heat of July and August. Somebody needs to be held responsible".

Responsible, as he further explains, for the long sweaty days, for slowing down his animals, the plague of mosquitoes,  gnats and flies, the browning and yellowing of things, withering of grass and flowers and sagging of gardens, and for nodding off in mid-afternoon, getting drowsy, and slow like a slug.

Unless you're a goldfish, constantly hydrated, with a three second memory, humans and animals alike must endure these grueling months and do the best we can to cope. Pointing fingers and blaming others like Sirius, the Romans, Mother Nature, or our local meteorologists, will do no good. The 'Dog Days' are here to stay.

Speaking of dogs... I should tell you I don't have one or any other kind of pet... at least one that lives and breathes.

I do have these.

They're clever little pencil sharpeners. Insert a pencil, crank the tail and 'voila'... a sharpened pencil! I have a good size collection of plastic toys, some are dollar store items, others designer creations. Plastic animals are a lot easier to care for than the real thing. They don't need to be walked, fed, or entertained... just kept from direct sunlight and dusted every now and then... more then, than now, in my case.

I wasn't always petless.

Our first family dog, my father's pride and joy, was a Cocker Spaniel named Lady Ginger of Bayside. Here's a photo of Ginger and me.

Notice Ginger is sitting a full arms-length away from me with eyes focused elsewhere... probably looking towards my dad. The two of them were inseparable. She was a gem of a dog... even won awards taking first and second place prizes for Tricks and Obedience at the Ken-L-Ration Dog Show on Long Island, NY. I was six years old, the same age as in the photo above, when I proudly walked her through her paces... the usual sit, stay, give me your paw, count, roll over, play dead along with the more difficult task of crisscrossing through my legs as I walked. Truthfully, a monkey could have taken my place and Ginger would still have won her blue ribbons. Dad had her well trained.

When she passed away, we were all distraught, my dad devastated.

It was years before another dog was allowed into the house. It was only my dad's soft spot for me, and my constant pleading, that got me a dog of my own. Free pups were being given away at our local gas station and I was given the pick of the litter. Inside a large cardboard box were puppies jumping, yelping, and begging to be held except for one... the quiet one, sitting peacefully still, and looking up at me... my 'zen' dog, tan in color, a mixed breed, mostly Golden Retriever. I named him Tawny.

Here's a photo of Tawny and me... both of us grown up.

Notice how close he sits with his eyes focused adoringly on me. Tawny wasn't trained like Ginger. He did have a few tricks of his own, like knowing where the dog biscuits were kept, opening the cabinet with his nose, and letting us know he was hungry by pushing his metal bowl around the kitchen floor like a fast moving hockey puck.

He was a smart puppy, but a lazy dog. He preferred being indoors and didn't care much for taking walks... much like me. So often when I'd attach a leash to his collar to venture out, he'd lay still, barely lifting his eyes, as if to say, "I'm tired, you go without me".

One day I did.

I left for college and only returned home for the occasional weekend visit or on holidays. I have so few regrets in life, but abandoning my dog was one of the biggest. Tawny remained with family, but I was no longer a good parent.

I so admire people who remain good parents to their pets throughout the duration of their animal's lives. I have quite a few friends who care for their animals as family members often inconveniencing themselves and making big sacrifices.

There's Joe who wakes up from a deep sleep each morning around 5:30 AM to feed his cat Patty because that's when she's hungry and ready to play.

And Christine who often and lovingly mentions her children Morgan and Emmalene in the same breath as the four-legged members of her family... Muggles, a Boston Terrier, and Honey, a Pit Bull mix. Christine asked to have Mickey, another Boston Terrier, included in her list of loved ones. She said, "Mickey had to be put down in January due to cancer. I still include him in everything I do... I just haven't let go yet". She has pictures and stories galore of all of them.

Then there's Bev H. whose preference for pets lies with rodents... first a rat purchased as a class pet then reluctantly given to a student who cared for it over the summer and hated to part with it. As a replacement, Bev accepted two free gerbils, which she kept for herself. She named them Peanut and Squirty... both female, sisters, and pregnant. Bev had no trouble telling them apart and could describe with great detail their different personalities and daily routines.

And Lisa, still grieving over the recent loss of her longtime companion, a black Labrador named Hadleigh. For years, Lisa drove home from work at lunchtime, to care and spend time with her dog. And for times when scheduling became difficult, she hired a trusty dog minder as a friendly substitute. When 'Hads' health declined and he could no longer climb steps, Lisa moved in downstairs and slept on the living room couch to be near him. I can only hope someone cares for me in my last days as she did for him, making my passing as peaceful and painless as humanly possible.

These are a few of the 'special ones', people I know, who love their pets unconditionally and put their animals before themselves.

Of course there are those who own pets but shouldn't and those like myself who choose not to have pets for any number of reasons.

There's an old show business adage that says, "Never work with children or animals". Their behavior is unpredictable and they often 'steal the show'.

In college, I remember being forewarned by my instructor..."Photograph any subject, just no children or pets". I doubt he had an aversion to them, but perhaps it was just his way of defining the difference between family snapshots and Fine Art.

So how do you explain these great works of art? They look pretty fine to me.

'Nancy'  Danville, Virginia 1969 ~  Emmet Gowin

'Jessie In The Wind' 1989 ~ Sally Mann

'Top Dog In A Top Coat' ~ William Wegman

These may be the 'Dog Days' of summer, for most of us, but for a few loyal pet owners, it's... 'days with dogs' and other animals all year round.

Aren't these cute?

They're calendars from the designers at Scout Creative. You can download them and others for free here. Print on a heavy cardstock, cut, score, fold and glue.

Here are a few more links you might find interesting:

A touching tribute to dear Penny, her dog, by Lisa Scottoline here.

A short video on William Wegman and his dogs here.

And for all you bird lovers out there, an article on B95, Moonbird here.

Do you have an interesting name for your pet or an interesting story to tell?

Michael's family's second dog was a purebred... a Great Dane who arrived by plane and came with registered papers and the name Great Zulu King. Oddly, whenever an airplane passed overhead, this enormous animal, with a warrior-like name, would cower... poor pooch.

How are you dealing with these 'Dog Days' of summer?

Woof!... Keep cool and carry on.

Happy Birthday Dave... we miss you.

Summer, Books, & Yard Sales

Summer time and the livin' is easy."

Time to slow down,  soak in the sun,  relax with a few good books,  refresh, re-inspire, have fun, and let your imagination run free.

Summer in Parts: Relaxing with a few good books.

I'm back... I didn't go anywhere except for where books have taken me. I've been reading... a lot lately.

I love books! I haven't invested in a Nook, Kindle or the latest Nexus 7 because, like some, I like paper and the physical sensation of holding a paperback, turning pages and sticking bits of scrap paper, magazine inserts, color chips, anything I can find, sometimes actual bookmarks, even tissue paper to denote pausing places and pages worth revisiting or worthy of note taking. These would work... Green Markers created by Yuruliku.

In college, I used to dog-ear pages and underline text with a pen, an unattractive habit thankfully replaced by handwritten notes in steno pads... volumes worth. For me, taking notes are a way of extracting the 'essential guts' of a book, recording brilliant ideas and poetic passages, condensing a book down to its core to be used later as reference or inspiration.

During our 'Stutz' days, in Jenkintown, my studio had a floor to ceiling shallow closet built by Michael to house my books. When the white fold-out doors were closed, it became a solid wall that no one would ever have guessed contained such a huge collection. The books were organized by subject content making it easy to find books at a glance. Even with the doors closed, and some of the books still unread, this 'closet of knowledge' had a powerful presence. It spoke to who I was, what I valued and where I was at any given point in my adult life.

Here's Stutz, a candy store on the first floor, and us on the second and third floors.

We had quite a few of these handmade floor to ceiling closets throughout our 3,500 sq ft loft space. A friend once commented on our monk-like existence, bare, empty, and void of any visible possessions. Visible was the key word because all our 'stuff', tons of it accumulated over many years, was hidden from sight behind these closet doors disguised as walls.

When we got word the building we rented for so many years was sold and we were forced to move, we faced many difficult decisions... the first being... where do we live next? The second... what do we do with all our stuff!?

Thanks to my copious note taking I was able to pare down my book collection to what I deemed essential and unable to part with, while boxing the rest for donation, giveaway, or sale... or something creative like Spanish artist Alicia Martin's use of books in her series 'Biografias'.

We decided on a yard sale.

While most people have yard sales to get rid of stuff they don't want, we didn't want to get rid of anything, but had no choice.

I spent several months looking over all our things deciding what to keep and take with us and which items to designate for our yard sale.

This truly was a stressful time for us. We hated leaving our home and town and I kept looking for a sign from the 'Universe' telling me that this move was going to be okay and that one day we'd be happy again.

That sign eventually appeared.

In the wee hours of the morning, the township had erected several signs on the corner where we lived at Greenwood Avenue and Cedar Streets. They read...DO NOT ENTER. It was apparent that from that day on maneuvering around the neighborhood was going to be a challenge. I took it as 'THE SIGN' that meant it was time to move on.

So Michael placed an ad in our local paper and posted signs everywhere announcing our yard sale. For the location, he listed 'On the corner of "DO NOT ENTER' and 'DO NOT ENTER'... along with an actual physical location...clever boy!

Our sale was set for 9:00 AM. At 7:30 AM, we were surprised to see people in parked cars, 'yard sale devotees' eager for a deal or precious find, as Michael, myself, and dear friend Denisee Pie (my nickname for her) began  setting up shop. Within minutes, those waiting in their cars were out and about and offering to help us get organized. We were amazed and grateful for the extra hands as we were still putting things out when 9:00 AM arrived.

We took over most of the parking lot that belonged to the 'Stutz' building. We had tables and tables and tables set up with items sorted, tagged, and categorized, selling anything and everything you can imagine... merchandise in mint condition, some items never used and an entire stone wall full of books... a zillion books all looking brand new.

This was the mother of all yard sales.

One woman approached me and wanted to know how to become a Barnes and Noble representative. Upon further questioning, it became apparent that she thought I was a small subsidiary of the giant bookseller. She was stunned when I told her all the books were mine.

Another, a teen passing by, spotted an expensive men's leather jacket that I had bought at a 'beyond belief bargain', but wore only twice because it was too heavy. He left, got mom, and $25 later was modeling it and I'm sure beaming all the way home. Another man bought a new pair of Levi Jeans, never worn, but purchased in slimmer times. After trying them on in the garage next door, he too, left a happy customer.

There were Polaroid cameras, kitchen items, vases, art objects, stationery, clothes, handmade crafts, knickknacks and these concrete containers sold without flowers.

You name it... we sold it! One friend, Carol, bought a crockpot. Another friend Lisa, bought a Coach  bag, a fan, shelving, and a magnetic game, continually questioning if I really wanted to sell them. One woman bought so many items I can only imagine she was stockpiling for Christmas, or opening up her own store. With each item she held, she bargained for a discount and we acquiesced. Her young daughter pleaded for a silver plastic tiara, the one D. Pie had given me years back to celebrate my birthday... I am the 'Queen of Birthdays'. This child, now with a crown on her head, fancifully paraded around like the 'Princess of Yard Sales'... sweet!

The stream of people never stopped. My friend Joey 'D' and his friend Phil came up from Center City to check out the event and to surprise us with lunch from Sarcone's Deli, the makers of the best hoagies in Philly. We took turns eating as the crowds just kept coming.

We met so many nice people. Some came looking for bargains. Some came out of curiosity, to see just where this place at the corner of Do Not Enter and Do Not Enter existed. We were so grateful to all who came and shared a bit of themselves.

Our last customers left at 8:00 PM!!!... with a trunk full of stuff like all our planters, a humidifier, two sports jackets barely worn, a broiler still in its original box (bought for an art project I never tackled) among other things. She and her husband talked to us as they shopped. She was a nurse who nursed her husband back to health after a sudden illness. She came back the next day to give us some vitamins and information on the benefits of Pycnogenol. Beverly was her name. She wasn't a rep for the product, just a genuinely good person.

Also returning was a man who didn't have money with him the day of the sale. I just gave him the two books he wanted, but he insisted on paying me the very next day. I found out he delivered pizzas and was an avid reader, reading everything and anything he could get his hands on. He loved my varied collection. I had planned on donating the few bags of books I had left to the library, but gave them to him instead. I knew these books would be in good hands.

Our yard sale was a huge success. Not only did we sell out of everything with the exception of a handful of items and a few bags of books, but we found the whole experience to be somewhat cathartic... purging us of accumulated things, readying ourselves for a major lifetime move, being with friends, meeting new people while having a lot of fun and earning extra cash... close to $2,500!!!

Hmmm... more money for books?... a possibility.

Also possible is that, somewhere, someone, dressed in lightweight summer clothes or swimwear is reclining on a lounge chair, possibly purchased at a yard sale, sipping some freshly brewed iced tea, and enjoying a favorite book... once owned by me!

Hey!... as my brother would say with his New York accent..."Ya neva know."

I'd like to know...

About your yard sale experiences or flea market finds. Have you ever found a gem worthy of The Antiques Road Show?

Books... paper or digital?

What ways are you relaxing or dreaming of relaxing this summer?

Here are a few connections you might find interesting...

The first is a clever, little clip from the people at Hema. Turn on the volume and wait for it to load here. You might see something you like or be reminded of something you already own, stashed in some drawer, just waiting for that next yard sale.

Another short clip... on Alicia Martin's book installation where you can see the pages flapping in the wind here.

And coincidently, gifted to me while I was writing this post, is the newly released book written by Katie Haegele called "White Elephants... On Yard Sales, Relationships, & Finding What Was Missing". I just started reading it and she seems like my kind of writer, speaking in conversational tones. You can read a review of her book here.

Here's to summer

...a time when being idle and enjoying leisure moments

becomes not only acceptable but expected.

Enjoy yours!

Summer, Weddings, & Amusement Rides

"Summertime and the livin' is easy."

Time to slow down,  soak in the sun,  relax with a few good books,  refresh, re-inspire, have fun and let your imagination run free.

Summer in Parts: Fun

As luck would have it, a carnival was headed my way. Perfect timing as I was looking to redesign this blog with something light and colorful that would shout... summer! Images of amusement rides and fairgrounds seemed a perfect choice.

When I called Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish to see about taking photographs of their carnival before it opened to the public, the response was, "Oh, are you from the wedding party?"

Wedding party???... How cool is that! To which I simply answered..."No".

Thankfully, I was given a 'yes' to take pictures before the official opening and when we arrived at the location, we were thrilled to find the grounds open and empty with the exception of a few 'carnies' making preparations for later that evening.

In what seemed like seconds, closer to an hour, 43 shots were taken. Michael and I had great fun moseying about and looking at brightly colored mechanical things and signs from all different angles. We would have stayed longer but the heat was intense, the sun was full, and our stomachs were grumbling. As we started to exit, the manager of Houghton Carnival, smelling all sweet from cotton candy, approached us and asked about my camera and photography... did I like to shoot up close or take distant shots... did I prefer photographing people or empty spaces? We talked for a while and it was mentioned, that if we came back around 3PM, after the church ceremony, I might get some good photos of the bride and groom on the Ferris Wheel.

I had forgotten about the wedding party and thanked him for the inside scoop. Now I wish I had gone back for those nuptial snapshots as this post has taken a direction I never anticipated... 'Weddings and Amusement Rides'... who would have guessed? When I write, I usually have a vague starting point, rarely an idea for a middle, and almost never a clue to the ending. It's like 'round and round she goes... where she stops, nobody knows'. A photo of the married couple going round and round on the Ferris Wheel would have been perfect for this spot.

Truth is... I would have loved my wedding here... pure fun... no formalities or lengthy preparations to be made, and certainly no fancy outfits to be worn! When it comes to fashion, I believe in the words of Henry David Thoreau, "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes". With that said, I'd like the ceremony and vows to be somewhat traditional, only held under a circus-like tent. The reception would be more free style, with a menu of hot dogs and boardwalk fries for the entree, and ice cream floats and cotton candy for dessert.

For entertainment, there would be rides and games like ring toss, pop the balloon, guess my weight, (let's not), and water squirt races. And there'd be prizes too, souvenirs, of Kewpie dolls, gold fish, and giant stuffed toys and more for everyone!!!

When Michael and I first considered getting married, we envisioned a simple civil ceremony, witnessed by a few friends, in San Francisco, where we lived while 'M' did his graduate work. Our families had different ideas... ideas requiring us to fly back East and marry in more customary ways. I eventually came around to realizing that I was the only daughter, the first to be married, and while I did choose my mate for myself, I needed to marry for everybody else.

The decision to marry was easy.

Finding funds to buy airline tickets and wedding bands was a bit more difficult... a lot more difficult as we were pretty broke, nothing unusual for most college kids back then and now.

Then, out of nowhere, I got this zany idea on how to get my hands on some cash fast... no I didn't place a sure bet on a horse to win in the 7th. Instead, I got tickets to a television game show, 'Bowling For Dollars', with the hope of being selected from the audience and winning the jackpot. I was a good bowler.

Long story short... I got chosen to play, the lane was a prop made of bumpy artificial material, I won a few bucks and a year's supply of Rice-A-Roni, "The San Francisco Treat"... which kept coming long after the year was up, which was very fortunate for us as we were... remember?... broke! Equally fortunate was that the show got cancelled and my embarrassing moments were never televised for all to see. Yea!

One day you may get to hear the long story long, but briefly,... the money we needed came from dipping into Michael's tuition funds and accepting a small loan from a very good friend.

Once back East, my parents paid for the affair they imagined, which included new clothes, a rented tuxedo for my dad, a band, florist, caterer and a judge for the ceremony. Coming from different backgrounds and religions, the decision to have a judge preside over the services was the perfect solution.

And so at 12:30PM, at The Jericho Manor, in Mineola, New York, during the coldest of January's, Michael and I were married before a small gathering of family.

I wish I could recall our judge's name and thank him for the words he chose especially for us, and for the beautiful poem he recited by Khalil Gibran. I wonder too, if after all these years, we are still the only people he wed getting married for the very first time, and in a catered venue instead of a courtroom. I think he would be pleased to know that we are still very happily married and that his presence played a significant role in our positive beginnings.

But as I glance through these photos of carnival rides, I can't help but wonder how different things might have been if this was the place we chose for our wedded bliss. I can easily imagine the two of us dressed in our casual summer attire, strolling the grounds with me carrying my camera taking pictures, and 'M', as usual, standing beside me probably holding my purse. And if I close my eyes, in the background, I can hear the sounds of happy guests laughing, or screaming from heights above the Coater Ride, and the Carousel calliope... piping 'our song'.

Fun!

And for those who say... "what's a wedding without dancing?" go here.

And for the final shot, I have no idea who these people are, but it's summer, it's fun, and they're enjoying the ride of their lives... hopefully, long happy ones.

Surely you have some interesting wedding tales to tell or amusement ride experiences that come to mind. Let's hear them. I deliberately left out the part about turning white like a ghost and throwing up afterwards... not my wedding... Coney Island's Roller Coaster Ride. It was my first and last. That's why I take the photos and leave the rides to everyone else.

Speaking of that once in a lifetime ride, Coney Island's Cyclone just celebrated its 85th birthday on June 30, 2012. You can read about it here and see some photos here.

Have fun...Enjoy your summer!