Beach Life Series ~ Chapter III: Living with strangers and employment

 
In one summer I lived with eight other humans and later that summer one other person and her dog.  All different personalities, from all over the United States and a wide range of ages.  The following summer I had just two roommates.  I started off working for one shop but ended up working for another by the end of the year.  Our stand was burnt to the ground at the end of the summer and that pushed us off to start traveling with the carnival during the fall months.  Never a dull moment.

Beach Life Series ~ Chapter II: A day in the life

 

Martin.....party of four, Martin....party of four.  Radcliff....party of two, Radcliff....party of two.  Then suddenly a window flies open and a string of obscenities is shouted from the bedroom next door.  Every day....every day.  Every day starting at 7am the pancake house across the street would start calling the wait list.....then our roommate would take matters into his own hands.  At no point did I ever wake up without the loud speaker or our roommate yelling out the window....eh, the sound of waves crashing makes me have to use the bathroom.  Speaking of sounds, the sounds at the beach are amazing, like in the way that you have never heard them all together before.  Motorcycles rumbling, array of music blasting from car windows, cars honking, laughing and merry making of pedestrians, crying children, squawking seagulls, clickty-clanking of park rides, crashing waves, buzzers and bells sounding off at the games and amusements and the occasional trumpet being played or guitar being strummed on the boardwalk.  And the smells!  Pizza, french fries, salty breezes, kettle popcorn, exhaust, hot dogs, seafood, fudge, sweat (bleh!)....every day.  I lived in Ocean City for two consecutive summers, both were equally fun and very different experiences at the same time.  For now we will discuss my first year, it was the most memorable.

Beach Life Series ~ Chapter I: Renting for the summer

Growing up my Nan and Pap owned a house at the beach, bayside near Rehobeth, Delaware.  I have so many fond memories, crabbing off the pier, playing cards in the evening, sitting on the front porch after dusk listening to the ocean, smelling the salty breezes.  I spent a good amount of my childhood at the beach house, during the summer and family vacations.  So when a boyfriend after high school graduation suggested we move to the beach, Ocean City, Md for the summer, I was game.

The Carnival Series ~ Chapter V: The people, the life and what I learned

I have never felt more like part of a family at my place of employment than working for the Reithoffer show.  Even as just a vendor, renting space with the show, they care about you, they treat you as one of their own.  People are helpful, making sure you have a hot meal to eat, a place to get a shower and know the tricks of the trade.  You will be the butt of a few jokes from time to time, but all joking aside, they look out for their own.  I met some real people while I traveled up and down the coast.  I met earthy folks taking a spin with the show while traveling between Rainbow gatherings, I met people running from their pasts with lots of interesting stories, I met some folks who enjoyed the party life and knew where to get whatever you wanted at nearly every location. I met people like myself, just having a good time, getting the experience of a lifetime.  Some people are meant for the road, like being free and not tied to any earthly possessions.  Some have no where else to turn.  Some do it because they were born into it.  Some do it because there is a lot of money to be made. 

The Carnival Series ~ Chapter IV: Carnival rides, games, other unique attractions and Mark, who is Mark???

Trashcan covers! Creepy....

This is the part where I wish that I had taken photos.  Back then you could not take photos with your cell phone.  Lots of people didn't even own a cell phone!  I would have loved to show you photos of our games, but my colorful descriptions will have to do.  JB had been doing Wax Hands for quite sometime before I came along and he felt it was time to take his business on the road.  After September, Ocean City Maryland slows down, waaaaaaay down.  Living there year round is hard, not many jobs, not many tourists.  Many residents or summer inhabitants flee, until the next season starts again.  JB would take on house painting jobs to hold his family over the winter season, until he met us. 

The Carnival Series ~ Chapter III: The layout

The layout is carny lingo for the time-tested pattern of a typical full-featured carnival designed to draw crowds all the way through the entire carnival and maximize their spending. The carnival was always laid out in the shape of a horseshoe. The crowd would enter the gate, and by natural instinct would proceed up the right leg. Games were the first joints they would encounter along the outside of the right leg of the horseshoe. Rides would be located down the center column, with the carousel always being the first ride beyond the front gate. After the games the crowd would find the shows and the the penny arcade. Across the back of the horseshoe would be the major rides, including one or more Ferris wheels. Then along the left leg of the horseshoe-shaped map, other shows and then more sales joints and games all the way to the front gate.

The Carnival Series ~ Chapter II: On the road

 
Imagine.........Driving all night starting around midnight and finally reaching your destination three to five hours later (depending on pit stops, traffic and construction).  Pulling your trailer in and looking for a hotel room to crash.  Waking up before noon and setting up the rest of the day.  When I say setting up, I am referring to giant metal poles, heavy plastic awnings and then the game itself!  First you have to get the super, mega, heavy metal frame together, then attach all the large, cumbersome, tent awnings, next you can start setting up your actual attraction.  Only then, after everything is setup, do you get to rest (sometimes it takes until nightfall - more on this later).  The next six days you work from 3PM to midnight or later.  Then its time to tear everything down, pack it up and get back on the road.  It's extremely exhausting work......

The Carnival Series ~ Chapter I: How it all started.....

Blinking lights, roaring coasters, men calling out - Guess your weight! Guess your age! and the smells.......ohhhhh the smells!  Buttery, caramel popcorn.....sweet, freshly spun cotton candy........hot french fries.........funnel cakes........oh my!  Sounds of laughter, mixed in with happy shrieks, all a part of the carnival experience.  In this series I will write about my travels with the carnival, the good, the bad - both fall seasons I spent with this huge family of sorts.  But we must start at the very beginning.