Theme parks are a staple of childhood summers, at least for me. I remember rocking up to Six Flags with my little middle schooler friends, going straight to the craziest one and riding until we felt nauseous, and then getting corn dogs at Johnny Rockets. But that was on special occasions. Our regular, down-home carnival at the local high school… that’s where stuff truly went down. Romances bloomed, vomit spilled, and the rides were just janky enough to keep you on your toes. 

There’s something special about small-time carnivals. You always wonder if (or maybe when) something will go wrong. Luckily for me, the ferris wheel never stopped when I was on it, but I heard it did one time, and the people riding it couldn’t get down for hours. Or maybe that was just an urban legend. Either way, it stays in my memory. And these memes feel just as wacky and fun as the tilt-a-whirl did that day.