I would like to think that my life has had pretty typical experiences I can share with most people - perhaps not exactly the same, but at least similar in nature. That being said, there is always one memory that returns to me often, but especially around the time the fair rolls in each year.

When I was much younger, somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 or 8, I was spending part of my Easter playing in the yard as children tend to do. I was minding my own business with my stuffed bunny I had received that morning.

There were children enjoying an egg hunt a couple of houses down and, to outsider looking in, I must have seemed lonely or left out because I was approached by a woman who asked me a question that I didn’t expect to hear. She offered me a ride on a carousel at her house.

Before you start thinking this is the lead-in of an episode of Dateline NBC, rest assured it most definitely is not. The kind woman asked me to get permission from my grandmother and I’m not sure if my feet even touched the stairs as I rushed into the house to find her and explain I wanted to go ride a carousel at our down-the-street neighbor we didn’t even know’s house.

I can only imagine how many alarm bells were going off in my grandmother’s head, but she followed me outside and heard the woman out. I can’t remember any of the conversation all these years later – truthfully, I was probably only thinking of what color horse I wanted to choose and not paying a bit of attention to what the adults were discussing. It must have gone well because we eventually set off for the neighbor’s house – aforementioned stuffed bunny in tow - and we were ushered into the garage where the promised carousel lay dormant.

I recall the woman explaining they provided the carousel for either the fair or some other function, but housed it there in the off-season. Regardless of why she had it, the memory has stuck with me for over twenty years. Carousels are a common enough experience, but it was something altogether different to have the opportunity to ride one in this particular setting.

It probably doesn’t seem like much, but moments like this one are one reason I will always love small towns. People are generally kind and want to help, and this lovely lady was no exception. She did not have to offer her carousel to a child she didn’t know, but she did so out of the goodness of her heart.

The moment meant a lot to me then and it still does now. It’s a fond memory to look back on, though I am disappointed I never returned to the woman’s house to give her a proper thank-you and, all these years later, I wouldn’t even know where to begin finding her.

So, to the woman who made my day all those years ago and created a cherished memory I’m unlikely to ever forget - thank you.

Standard reporter Nikki Childers can be reached at (931) 473-2191