The Carousel Picture

Some friends have asked me about the carousel photo on this blog. My friend Dorothee took the photo this Thanksgiving vacation when she was visiting from Germany. She came to visit me at a sad time, just a month after my youngest sister died-------but her visit was a happy one. She joined my family for Thanksgiving at my grandparents' house (what a good sport!) and then we spent a day in Manhattan together, even braving Macy's on Black Friday. Then we returned to my home and we went for a lovely hike at the Great Swamp and she met some of my friends.

Anyway, Central Park is a special place for me. It has represented being grown-up enough to go around the city on my own....and it has represented the hope of spring (there's a corner in the park where the daffodils come up earlier than anywhere else I know.) I have enjoyed seeing The Gates in the park, and I have enjoyed climbing on the rocks. Dorothee and I played on the swings for awhile, and then I was drawn to the carousel.

A carousel is a symbol of childhood, of freedom for frivolity, of whimsical playtime, and of the ability to squander time. It also is used to represent time, ever moving on, and ever circular. It was with pure joy that we went up and down on the horses, listening to 1970's music played on the calliope: "I'm on the top of the world looking down on creation". I was removed from the grief of the past month, and just so very alive.

This horse in this photo was alone in a darker corner: an outcast, a memory... Shyly it peeked out as us, just as a memory or a dream sometimes will. It was so subtle that I didn't even notice it at first, but Dorothee did and she shot this photo.

It seemed fitting for a blog entitled "Music is Change" because music is forever, and it is changing, and it is hence forever changing. The carousel goes around and around, and the people on it change and grow and come and go...........so do its horses. But the delight remains, and this horse remains to watch it. Who knows? Maybe it was only sidelined for repairs!

Comments

  1. Laurie Rozakis, Ph.D.March 6, 2008 at 6:31 PM

    Emily, What a beautiful blog. Your sweet voice comes through so clearl,. I especially enjoyed your tribute to your grandfather.
    Laurie

    ReplyDelete
  2. beckyMarch 6, 2008 at 7:47 PM

    That's cool; the carousel horse has almost a mischievious look there, peaking out from behind that cover. Makes me think of a trickster figure. (I really like your kitty pictures, too!)

    ReplyDelete

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