One of my earliest memories as a kid is riding the merry-go-round in Logansport, Indiana. This photo is of a carousel in suburban St. Louis.

While looking at this picture, I noticed that the carousel is turning counter-clockwise. As I remembered other carousels I have seen, I wondered whether they all turn in that direction. And the fact is that, yes, all carousels in the US turned counter-clockwise. Between two and three thousand carousels were constructed in the United States with less than 150 operating today. And of those, less than 10 have operating brass ring machines. Those who were riding on the outer carousel figures could stretch out their right hand to grab a ring from a mechanical arm. Most of the rings were steel, but if you got the brass ring, you were rewarded with a free ride. It was just random luck.

I do have a brass ring from the Logansport carousel (that I purchased as a memento).

I don't consider myself lucky. I am blessed. And I have received more than a free ride.