Carny Stock...

my grandfather was a carny. during the summer months, he'd travel around with the local fairs and eventually he traveled all over the midwest with carnivals and fairs. he worked the food booths, calling out his rhymes to all the passers-by. he sold sweet corn, elephant ears, funnel cakes, corn dogs... he still knows the calls. if i ask him sweetly, he'll do his calls for me sometimes. my favorite is the racy "girlie show" call.

come on down to the girlie show.
watch 'em wiggle,
watch 'em giggle.
if you are under 18,
you wouldn't understand it;
if you're over 80,
your heart can't stand it.

(is it any wonder a budding lesbian would love this one the best?! i remember picturing the wriggling, giggling girls and wishing i could be there...wriggling and giggling right along with them!)

a few years ago, my grandfather and his wife went back onto the carny circuit. carolyn, his wife, hated every moment of it. the heat of the tiny food stand was overwhelming because of the fry vats and the lack of ventilation. my grandpa lit up, though. he was back in his element. the man is a born salesman...starting with working the carny stands, then selling shoes and suits, and eventually becoming the manager of an insurance sales branch. after a couple of months of carny work, carolyn had enough and made him head back home. i think he got it out of his system. he hasn't talked about going back to work for the fairs lately...but he still does the calls for me sometimes, when i ask sweetly.