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So Long for Now
This morning I woke up with a feeling I was missing something. Then it struck me, I had no CNE to go to.
I sat back a thought about the past 18 day, and what they meant to me personally. Although the Ex had been closed for less than 12 hours, I was struck by a deep sense of nostalgia.
When I was a little girl I would go to the Ottawa Ex with my grandmother. Grannie was legally blind, but she visited the CCE every year. When her friends said, “Why do you go, Ella? You can’t see anything.” Grannie would reply “Yes, but I can hear it, and I can smell it.” I have carried that with me my entire life.
When I moved to Toronto thirty some odd years ago, I fell in love with the CNE. Nine years ago I moved directly across the Gardiner from Exhibition Place. Heaven. Daily trips to the CNE were par for the course. This year topped them all.
Why do I love the Ex so much? A million reasons, but one stands out the most.
The people. The Ex is one of the last places in Toronto where strangers talk to each other. I met a myriad of interesting people each with their own stories about their CNE experiences. People-watching is at its best at the Ex.
Some of my favourite moments:
There was the woman who was so happy to see the Air Show. Her father had flown a Lancaster bomber in WWII and the show brought back many pleasant memories for her.
Meeting Sergeant Major Sheppard who took time to explain the Mountain Ops demonstration to me, what to look for and what went into setting it up.
The father dancing with his daughter before the Hula dancing show.
Watching the kids playing in the water, sprayed by a fireman on a hot afternoon.
The looks of shock and admiration from the women we shared a picnic bench with when my friend and I tried the chocolate covered bacon. We declined their offer to try one of their french fries in our chocolate.
The moment I will never forget from this year’s Ex happened on the Midway one evening.
I was standing next to the exit of the famous swing ride. A mother and grandmother were standing, waiting. Next to them was an empty wheelchair. When the ride ended the mother went into ride and came back, carrying her 12 year old daughter. I have never seen such a look of sheer exhilaration on a child’s face. I looked at the grandmother and we both had tears of joy on our faces.
That single moment summed up everything the CNE is to me. Moments of delight that take us away from our every day lives. Those moments are ephemeral and need to be cherished. Just like the CNE. It is here for a few days and then it is gone.
It will be back. Two hundred and forty seven sleeps to opening day. I will be there.