The Grand Old Lady returns
The 130th edition of the CNE opens this morning. And of course the buzz here as in many places this morning has been all about our Ex memories.
My family lived quite a ways outside of Toronto but I remember the big trek into the city for the CNE. Mom, dad and my brother Kevin and I would wear our comfortable shoes and dad would give us an allowance for the day’s activities. It was up to us if we spent it on rides or the midway or on so many candy apples (my favourite!) that we felt ill for the whole drive home!
I loved rides that scared me a little. I also got a kick out of some of the midway games and I remember the optimism in my little brain that I would win that big bear. The year I finally covered the big circle with the black discs was a big moment! I imagined myself going pro, as a Disc Circle Coverer. But my feat was never to be repeated.
My brother was a master at any and all shooting games and he helped me get over the embarrassment of losing my substantial cookies on the ferris wheel. I’ve never really liked heights!
Later on, as teenagers, my cousin and Wanda and I took the bus to the big city and on one visit we rode the Alpine a personal record 26 times! We just kept handing the guys more tickets as we swung around to the loading areas.
More recently, I’ve been to the Ex in my role as a Big Sister. I’d take my Little Sister and one of her friends and hold their backpacks while they had all the fun. I’m not into rides so much anymore and I’ve morphed from the fun-lover into the “parental” role. But I still enjoy a candy apple and playing a game or two. And now if it seems the carnies are getting too friendly with my pretty little charges, I furrow my brow and they back off! Such is the role of caretaker!
My CNE memories are probably pretty run of the mill. What are yours? The end of summer is coming, so let’s go to the Ex!
August 15th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Great Blog. I have not visited the grand plg lady for yeard. Too much emphasis is placed on profits and not enough on real fun as it used to be.
Bad equipment and unsafe foods