INTRO? The Himalaya Ride as Metaphor for Life in US

 When I was a kid growing up in the '60s, the annual county fair was a very big deal. When folks in our area talked about fair weather, we meant the type of weather that was perfect for enjoying the county fair, with just a slight nip in the air. The fair that took place in our county every fall was one of the largest in the Southeast. People from all over the western half of the state would converge on our city for its ten-day run to take in the competitions, shows, carnival games, rides, and food that at that time you could only get at the fair. 

My family was lucky in that the fairgrounds were adjacent to our neighborhood. At the end of every night of the fair there would be a spectacular fireworks show, which we had a perfect view of from the picture window in our breakfast nook.  It was a simpler time, a time when parents didn't think twice about letting their kids walk to the fair, so my neighborhood friends and I would always go at least twice. We would fill up on cotton candy, corn dogs, candy apples, and popcorn, and come home laden with cheap stuffed animals and trinkets.

In the '60s, everything about the fair was good, wholesome fun, but by far the biggest draw at the fair was the rides. Everyone had a favorite. My personal favorite was the Himalaya. There was a lot of buzz about the Himalaya when it made its first appearance at the fair, and it immediately became my personal favorite. Year after year, I had three primary objectives when I went to the fair, to eat a grilled Italian sausage with peppers and onions on a crusty roll, to buy a bag of cotton candy to take home, and to ride the Himalaya. 

If you're unfamiliar with the Himalaya, it's was a showy thrill ride with flashing lights, music, and taunting calls to the crowd from the ride operator. Like many carnival rides, it has cars that hold several people and make circular revolutions. The Himalaya took the old rides up a notch, putting the circle at a tilt and adding hills and valleys that would lift you off your seat. It accelerates to a speed of 12 revolutions per minute, then decelerates and go backwards at a dizzying speed. 

The only thing not great about this thrill ride is that riders sitting furthest to the left in their car inevitably get crushed by the riders sitting next to them as the Himalaya goes forward and  h  , and riders furthest to the right get likewise crushed when the ride goes in reverse. Try as you might, i

Decades after it's first appearance, the Himalaya remains one of the most popular amusement park rides. A few years ago, my children and I moved back to my hometown. I hadn't been to the local fair in two decades, but it was still popular and I wanted my kids to experience it.