While I was talking to a neighbor who keeps herself busy taking her 10- and 12- year-old grandkids to every activity in the county, she informed me that she had taken them to the spring carnival at Gulf Breeze High School. So far this year that seems to have been her family's favorite activity. Not the food - but the Ferris wheel!

Personally she felt a bit queasy, but the kids loved it, and took several rides. Which, of course, reminds me of my own tale involving a Ferris wheel. . .

Many years ago I spent summers in a small New Jersey seashore town. One year a little traveling fair came to town, and the entire population was dizzy with excitement. Of course, my sister and I took her two girls and my two boys, all well under the age of 12, to give it a try.

I decided to take my oldest son for a ride on the Ferris wheel. My sister elected to stay below and mind the rest of the family while we more daring types got on board.

The wheel was not the large, permanent type we see in big amusement parks, of course. It was the kind that had to be assembled at each stop the small fair made, but it seemed quite sturdy nonetheless.

As we went round and round we saw our family far below and the stars twinkling above, and found it thrilling, especially when our chair stopped for a few minutes in the top position. We would make it swing gently back and forth to add to the thrill.

Suddenly, a man far below shouted up at us through a megaphone. "There will be a slight delay while we reposition the fan belt."

The slight delay turned out to be over an hour in length, and any incipient fondness we felt for Ferris wheels vanished at that time. Pretty soon the slightest sway or puff of breeze brought home to us just how far above the ground we were! I tried singing and joking with him to take his mind off our precarious perch, but to no avail. He grew more and more tense as the minutes dragged by. Meanwhile, my sister and the other kids sat below us, contentedly eating ice cream cones and laughing at our predicament.

When we were finally down and released from our seats, everyone got their money refunded because of the delay, and my son and I spent that money on doublesized ice cream cones, and brownies too. We deserved it!

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Now that nice weather is here, it's time to remember that regular gardening, walking, or swimming can significantly reduce your healthrelated expenses.

A study in the American Journal of Public Health informs us that seventy-four percent of those who swim or walk regularly, and 50 percent of those who garden regularly, enjoy 100 percent better health than those who are sedentary.

Okay folks, Spring is here - let's get busy!

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With all the recent publicity about the section of Pensacola known for rampant vice, it would seem that the Pensacola Little Theatre has chosen a perfect time to mount their production of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." This perennial favorite Broadway musical gives an upbeat view of life in a small-town Texas bawdy house known as "The Chicken Ranch."

From April 12 through 15, and 19 through the 22, it will keep you in stitches whether you are seeing it for the first time or have enjoyed it before.

Roy Bracken directs and Valerie Russenberger stars as Miss Mona, along with a tremendous cast of singing and dancing cowboys and ladies of the evening, to give us a bawdy good time.

The box office phone is 432-2042.

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Think about this:

If it weren't for the optimist, the pessimist wouldn't know how happy he isn't.

See you next week.