Exhibition time and ridin’ is queasy

Published 12:30 pm Thursday, August 21, 2025

Today is Aug 21, which means it is the weekend of the Bulkley Valley Exhibition!

Dare I say, it is my children’s favourite time of the summer. It is so much fun and I love the excitement in the air. My favourite part is the rodeo. I love watching all the beautiful horses and all the other animals.

My daughters’ favourite thing about the fall fair is the midway. They love all the rides and all the fun food. It isn’t every day we get to experience a fair or amusement park, so we go all out and buy all the candy apples and cotton candy and my kids ride all the rides.

The only ride I can handle is the Ferris Wheel. Everything else makes me sick. I can’t even watch my kids on the Berry-Go-Round or even think about Zero Gravity. My stomach is queasy right now writing this.

I never used to be like this. I used to love all the rides. What happened? I can hear Miley Cyrus right now singing “I used to be young.”

Your body uses multiple systems to sense motion: your inner ear, eyes, muscles, and joints. But when these systems send conflicting signals to your brain, like when you are on a roller coaster, it can lead to nausea, dizziness, and other symptoms of motion sickness. 

Apparently, as you age, the vestibular system in your inner ear (which helps with balance and spatial orientation) can become less efficient and this can make older adults more susceptible to motion sickness. So while I usually still feel young, these rides bring me back down to earth.

Also, fun fact: Women are generally more prone to motion sickness than men.

So I don’t mind watching, or waiting at the exit while sipping some lemonade. There are some good things about getting older, such as getting wiser. I know I can’t handle the rides so I opt out. I enjoy seeing the joy on my kids’ faces and making small talk with other parents who are also waiting.

If you do end up trying the rides and getting sick this year, ginger, in various forms, can also be effective, and acupressure wristbands may also provide relief. Then feel free to grab a ginger ale and sit on the sidelines with me.