Punahou Carnival
Today I decided to go to the Punahou Carnival. I haven’t been to a carnival in a number of years, but I thought it would be a great place to find some fun photo opportunities.
I decided earlier in the day that I would go to the carnival an hour or so before sunset. I thought the pastel sky would make a good backdrop to the lighted rides and happy faces. I took a shower, put on my shorts and lucky t-shirt, grabbed my backpack, and slipped into my favorite pair of rubber slippers.
Punahou school is less than two miles from my home, so the walk was rather pleasant. As I walked, I thought of possible photos that I would like to take with the camera; people on rides, the facial expressions of those playing games, the variety of food booths, little children on the merry-go-round, and assorted other shots. Soon I was a block away from the school, and the sidewalk became crowed with people. Fortunately, we were all moving in the same direction.
As I walked onto the campus, the scent of malassadas filled my senses. I knew that before I left the carnival that I would stop to have at least one or two. I was amazed at how crowded the carnival was. Really crowded. I tend to avoid such large crowds whenever possible, as I prefer my elbow room. But it’s times like these when I’m thankful for being tall so that I can at least breath my own air and see beyond the back of someone’s big head.
In the distance, I could see my first photo opportunity. Although I couldn’t see the people being swung on the ride, I liked the lights and the color of the sky. Perhaps if I only had one shot left on the memory card, I wouldn’t take this shot, but being the first shot of the day, I went for it. I began walking towards the ride, hoping to get a clearer photo. And then…
It all happened so suddenly, as it usually does. Some kid walking behind me stepped on my rubber slipper, breaking the strap in two. I stopped, picked up the slipper and hoped that it could be repaired. Nope, it was broke. I looked at the teen and asked, Now what? He managed to mumble a weak sorry and then faded into the crowd.
I couldn’t walk around with one slipper on my foot, nor would I go barefoot. I put on the broken slipper, squeezing the rubber nub between my toes, and flip-flopped my way off campus into the approaching crowd. No more photos and no malassadas. Everyone looks at your foot when you walk funny. When they discover the odd walk is not because of an injury, but rather a broken slipper, they look at you with disdain.
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:14 pm
ohh, that’s sad. I just went carnival, and i was fortunate enough to have everything go pretty ok. I hope that you were still able to enjoy the games. I mean, i think that if you went longs and picked up a pair you would be alright. Good luck.