21 August 2011

Simple magic


The Bushnell Park Carousel, Hartford, CT.

When I was a kid my father used to take me to the magnificent carousel at Bushnell Park in Hartford, Connecticut. It was built in 1914 and still runs today. When I was little I had two favorite horses: one was an elaborately carved horse in knights armor, and the other was a beautiful hardword horse with a flowing chestnut mane. Both of them were jumper horses-- the horses that went up and down as the carousel went round and round. I loved it. It was a magical place.

I went back today with my father and he bought me two tickets so I could ride my favorites. As the third bell rang and the carousel started up, and the lights whirled, and the organ played-- I realized the magic was still there.