The carnie within!

It's entirely too easy to belittle the carnival crowd. Once a year when the Durham Fair comes around,  we look sideways at the carnies as they beckon one last dollar out of our pockets. We'll pass them by as they call us out to play their games; our heads down almost as if we are hiding our own indiscretions.  As society's norms calls out more and more for perfection, I am beginning to think that maybe the carnies are on to something. Perhaps our quest to be the perfect human is all wrong. Maybe life is truly screaming for us to be imperfect. Let me be the first to step up on the soapbox and shout out my newly proclaimed carnie self. As these photos show, looking at ourselves in full carnie spender is a far more candid and realistic approach to life. Not a day goes by without feeling like Dolly Dimples or Jenny O'Grady the Lion tamer.  On a regular basis, no one better defines me than Zip, the pinhead. On a rarity, I may feel like Superman, but there are more days that the sad clown better defines one's mood. And while my rare trip to the salon may have me feeling briefly like Betty Boop, Amazon Kate is far more realistic(especially before 7am!). So while you may proudly display your "proud parent of a ….." sticker, I suggest you add a sticker that says, "I love carnies".  Truth is, it better defines us all.