The Common: Everything but Ordinary

My first memory stems back nearly eleven years ago. I was an eager, open-minded, naive six year old yearning to explore every aspect of the fair: the smell of warm fried dough swirling through the air, ponies' hooves stomping the hard ground, trumbones and drums coming together to emit a beautiful sound, and my anxious self impatiently waiting to soar through the skies on a carnival ride. I distinctly recall my excitement as I stood in line, nervously wondering if I would reach the top of the yellow measuring stick that would enable me aboard the space ship ride. Before I knew it, I was flying in circles on an experience of a lifetime.

A moment like this can only be experienced at the center of town. Since as long as I can remember, I have spent every steaming hot fourth of July day at the common's fireworks and carnival. With overwhelming amounts of red, white, and blue banners, the common comes to life every year. You will see a plethora of families celebrating the patriotic day with pride, dads taking off work, moms releasing their stress by sharing cotton candy with their children. As you walk the outer pathway, you will have sweet talker's persuade you into competing in a squirt gun fight to win a giant teddy bear, which you will proceed to proudly carry with you the remainder of the day. You will bob for apples at the apple stand, listen intently to the concert at the gazebo, and throw darts at water balloons. Most likely, you will miss every time, but you will enjoy the challenge. After an exhausting day at the fair, you and your family will set up blankets, munch on pretzels, and gaze up at the stars, wondering when those stars will be taken over by numerous colors and sparks of brightness. You will smell the fireworks come to life and soon swell up in the sky, just as the entire crowd sinks to silence. All you can hear is the boom boom crackle as each firework sizzles its way into the sky and pops. In awe, you applaud, along with hundreds of other hands clapping together in unity.

Summer is not the only time when families and townies gather on the Common. Christmas is also popular, when you can walk along the snowy paths of the common down a brightly lit archway, leaving footprints with every step you take. You can look up at Santa's reindeer skimming the trees, as you cIasp to your hot chocolate to keep from shivering. The chilling air enters your nose and you smell the sharp breeze of a winter night.

I think I'll stop there...Christmas at the common is an experience you must endure yourself in order to truly grasp its significance. The common is a place where memories are stored in hearts and minds forever. It is where you will bite into your first warm, sugary fried dough. It is where you will belt out your first Christmas carol. It is where you will bravely overcome your fear of carnival rides. These memories are what draws the town's people back each year. The only downside is that the holidays are few and far apart. On ordinary days, the common can appear "unappealing" because it is merely a casual place for walks, picnics, and small summer concerts. However, those who truly know the town know the common is everything but "unappealing." It is everything but ordinary.