Few Words Wednesday: Mr. Ferris and His Wheel

When people ask me how to spell my last name, I always respond with "Ferris, like the wheel". And then I have to actually spell it, because very few people understand what I mean.

As a lifelong lover of amusement parks and carnival rides, I feel pretty lucky to have married into the Ferris - yes, that Ferris - family. (George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., inventor of the Ferris Wheel, never had children, so while the familial line doesn't run directly to Tom, Will, and Hallie, all three are still his blood relatives.) I have Ferris Wheel art, from photos and paintings to metal sculptures and Christmas ornaments, throughout my house, I always choose Ferris Wheel pictures for my Facebook cover photo, and as the kids would say, "we ride a Ferris Wheel every time we see one!"

I also take A LOT of Ferris Wheel pictures. I plan to one day print and frame them, or create something else interesting with them, however I don't yet know when or what. In the meantime, I'll enjoy them here...

Interesting Ferris facts… George Ferris was born on February 14th. February 14th is also the birthday of my sister-in-law, Chandi, who became a member of the Ferris family when she married Tom's brother. George Ferris died on November 22nd. November 22nd is my birthday, and as you probably have figured out by now, I became a member of the Ferris family when I married Tom. Were Chandi and I meant to be Ferrises? I think so! (Tom thinks I'm reaching here, but I think it's an obvious sign.)