Advertisement
Published: August 21st 2014
Twenty-seven years ago I embarked on a journey that – as the saying goes – was in my blood. It was at the age of nine when I began to set my own stage in show business, following the footsteps of my grandfather, a pioneer in the intriguing world of carnival life. Likewise, my father spent many years operating games at various fairs in Canada, so combined with my natural inclination for business, it only seems fitting that I would carry on the legacy.
As Erin and I prepare for nearly a year in Asia, it is cathartic to sit here at the Canadian National Exhibition in our trailer at 3:00 a.m. and reflect on the things that bring one to any given point in time. Outside our kitchen window is a dark midway full of rides, games and food, but despite the silence, each sight, smell and sound is lingering, eager for the crowds of people who flock to us each day as a means of escaping the monotony of daily life. And while we still have our share of the politics that come with any business, there is another level that supersedes all of the frustrations; out here we are living a reality that is closer to a dream.
Now do not get me wrong, for the dream we create does come with a cost – extremely long hours, harsh working conditions, rising costs of business, lonely moments away from family, friends and home – and yet, even as those thoughts cross my mind, I cannot help but smile when I realize that there are few places I rather be.
In a world where the real seems so lost, there is little
but the real on the road. It is a life of endurance, mental, physical and emotional strength, survival, competition, loyalty, integrity and honour. It is a world where a handshake seals a deal and your enemies are the first to lend a hand. The lessons one learns on the road cannot be found in books; the scars are real, the stories true, the battles lost and won always a reminder of where we came from, where we are and where we are going.
We live in a culture that has forgotten its roots and the lessons that are bred through passion. We stroll through life following a pattern, often being told that there is only one direction that works. Too often we settle on the shores of a distant coast and allow our dreams, hobbies and passions to drift away. It is not often enough that we remind ourselves that this is our life, our world, our whole.
By the time we face our past, it is too late to make any changes on what was; we must constantly reflect and dream of each day as a new beginning. Life is short, dreams are many, but actions are truth!
So next time you are at a fair, remember to step right up as, “You can’t win a prize with your eyes!”
Advertisement
Tot: 0.045s; Tpl: 0.008s; cc: 6; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0205s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1mb
Mom
non-member comment
There goes another one!
After reading this entry, I was overcome by emotion. I was a young child again growing up with amusement parks as my playground, with parents who were always there for me, and whenever possible, loved to live life to the fullest. If Zaidie were here today, I know he would be so proud of the man you are and your choice in the perfect partner to share your dreams with. The both of you have won the best prize of all - each other!