On the Carousel

After writing the story about the carousel horse necklace, I remembered this series of photos of a family trip to the zoo. I think I must be under five, judging by the tomboyish hairstyle (which was not of my choosing), but how cute do I look with it anyway? And how light my hair is!

One of my aunts was responsible for that haircut. I recall being furious once when mistaken for a boy by a lifeguard at a local swimming pool. He called out, ‘No running, little boy!’ and indignant, I yelled back, ‘I’m not a boy!’ Granted, I sported this hairstyle and I was running around in only bikini briefs … whoops. I don’t know what my sisters were thinking, letting me do that. (No pictures exist of this incident, fortunately.) Although possibly my memory might be faulty – I might have also been wearing a t-shirt. I hope …

On this zoo outing I am wearing a grey and yellow Amigos t-shirt and mushroom-coloured shorts, with blue thongs or flip-flops. Rather unusual colours for children’s clothing, but perhaps this is the genesis of my liking for such subtle shades. I seem to be holding a soft-serve ice cream in my hand, and the bemused expression on my face makes me giggle.

My mum, sister Star in chinos and blue tee, and cousin Mimi in dark jeans and what looks like a paisley shirt also feature in this series, as well as a pair of headless emus. Star and Mimi are both wearing Roman-style sandals. I was considered too little to go on the faster merry-go-round, and recall feeling envious of them. They look like they are astride greyhounds (or are they wild boars?), and I must say, if more sedate, at least my carousel horse is much more aesthetically appealing.