A
Anonymous
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He was a mild mannered man that loved kids. He made his living by booking "events" at grocery stores, schools, and anywhere that would have him. Once set up, the trailer he towed behind his car revealed a four horse merry-go-round. He did all kinds of tricks with balloons, filling them with air and sculpturing them in to soft kittys, warm puppies, and even bright colored hats. His name was Cactus Vick.
He worked at all the local grocery stores. Sheppards, Cranks, and The Friendly Butcher.
Cactus even had a connection at all the schools in town, not because he was so talented, but because his wife of many years taught second grade at Howard Perrin Elementary.
Cactus Vick used to make my heart start pounding just by seeing his carousel set up when Mamma pulled into the grocery store. Back in them days you could ride the merry-go-round for a dime and Cactus was NOT stingy. Sometimes he would give Mamma enough time to do all her shopping while he babysitted me and other little tikes. At 5 or 6 years old, I was pretty content jusy going around and around in circles while Cactus Vick made jokes and kept my mind off of bugging Mamma.
Once when I was in the first grade, Cactus Vick came to our school wearing his famous straw hat and entertained the first through sixth grade. It was that day he pointed at yours truly and made me a funny shaped hat out of different colored balloons. Was it coincidence or did he actually remember me from times past? I'll never really know, but I would like to think that we were buddies.
As I started getting older, I noticed Cactus Vick didnt make it around town like he used to. If the truth were known, he probably retired and bought the merry-go-round just to have a way to supplement his income. He was a gentle old man who had a passion for kids. His wife shared this passion and taught for many years at Howard Perrin. He had made many kids smile in his day and probably put a lot more smiles on the faces of mothers throughout Saline County, and just to think, they only cost a dime a piece!
They dont make em like they used to; thats for sure, but the world needs another Cactus Vick. He was not only a babysitter, but an artist and a true "people person." I dont recall him having kids of his own nor do I recall when he passed on, but you can be certain of one thing for sure. If he's running that merry-go-round in the sky, he's still putting smiles on people! <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="
">
Thanks for sharing some of my childhood.
God Bless,
Lil Brother <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=""> <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">
He worked at all the local grocery stores. Sheppards, Cranks, and The Friendly Butcher.
Cactus even had a connection at all the schools in town, not because he was so talented, but because his wife of many years taught second grade at Howard Perrin Elementary.
Cactus Vick used to make my heart start pounding just by seeing his carousel set up when Mamma pulled into the grocery store. Back in them days you could ride the merry-go-round for a dime and Cactus was NOT stingy. Sometimes he would give Mamma enough time to do all her shopping while he babysitted me and other little tikes. At 5 or 6 years old, I was pretty content jusy going around and around in circles while Cactus Vick made jokes and kept my mind off of bugging Mamma.
Once when I was in the first grade, Cactus Vick came to our school wearing his famous straw hat and entertained the first through sixth grade. It was that day he pointed at yours truly and made me a funny shaped hat out of different colored balloons. Was it coincidence or did he actually remember me from times past? I'll never really know, but I would like to think that we were buddies.
As I started getting older, I noticed Cactus Vick didnt make it around town like he used to. If the truth were known, he probably retired and bought the merry-go-round just to have a way to supplement his income. He was a gentle old man who had a passion for kids. His wife shared this passion and taught for many years at Howard Perrin. He had made many kids smile in his day and probably put a lot more smiles on the faces of mothers throughout Saline County, and just to think, they only cost a dime a piece!
They dont make em like they used to; thats for sure, but the world needs another Cactus Vick. He was not only a babysitter, but an artist and a true "people person." I dont recall him having kids of his own nor do I recall when he passed on, but you can be certain of one thing for sure. If he's running that merry-go-round in the sky, he's still putting smiles on people! <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="
">Thanks for sharing some of my childhood.
God Bless,
Lil Brother <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="
"> <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">