only backgroundI'm a wife, mother and grandmother. I'm opinionated. I contradict myself frequently. Most of all, I love my kids. I believe in them. I fight for them. They're weird and wonderful. If you want to know more, here's a bunch of other stuff from my old site.
There’s an amusement park in Pittsburgh, Kennywod, that stretches far back into my memory. My first visit there, I was too small to ride anything beyond Kiddie Land. Every child’s personal goal was to stand taller than the wooden Kenny the kangaroo who was nailed at the entrance to each ride. By the looks of Kenny today, I’d guess that my kids measure themselves on the same time worn display.
During my middle school years, the test of courage was riding the Thunderbolt. I had already mastered the Racer, a dual roller coaster, successfully choosing the winning car more often than not. I had no problem with the swift Thunderbolt since I had the advantage of taking my first ride while putting a death grip on the knee of my adorable riding companion, Michael. That led us to the Old Saw Mill (aka the Tunnel of Love) and sealed us as a couple for a full three weeks.
The coaster, though, that terrified me was the Jack Rabbit. I’d give it one shot each time I visited the park then swear I’d never go back to it again. It was worse, even, than sitting in the top car of the giant Ferris Wheel as my sadistic sister rocked back and forth, watching me turn green. I don’t know enough about physics and such to explain it, but the Jack Rabbit somehow jolted you right out of your seat at various points along the track. No matter how well I was belted in, my ass would shoot up from the seat and I’d pray for an end to it all.
It was never the up and downs, no matter how fast or steep, that frightened me. Even years later, on the Corkscrew at Cedar Point, I did not feel the same terror in being turned upside down that I did when the Jack Rabbit delivered one of its abrupt jolts.
And so it is with my life today. It isn’t so much the ups and downs that have me in such distress; it’s the jolt that I’m never expecting. I’ve learned to close my eyes at the end of the climb and hold my breath as I plummet to the bottom. I just can’t shake the shock of being blind sided.
This isn’t the ride I paid for.
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If it were always the ride we pay for, would we continue to pay for it?
It has been a while since you have posted. Are you OK? I am guessing that you got a jolt you did not want or expect. Is there anything we can do?
Oh dear. My first post after a brief hiatus, and you throw that deep thinking at me! I’ve certainly missed that over the past week or so.
I’ll have to write something about the latest events in this soap opera I call a life, but I still haven’t finished my quarterly reports.
When I finally get a chance to get it all down here, you’ll see what I mean by blind sided.
I’ve taken a few minutes to write about it. Just another heartbreak, but from an unexpected source and much harder on my son. Still recovering…..
I will patiently wait.
[...] Marisa asks Why did I buy an all day pass? at Marisa’s Dandelion Patch. She tells me, “I wrote this one back in 2001. Had just gotten one of those life jolts and I was still reeling from it. I’ve been feeling this way recently so I figured it would be good to submit.” [...]
I found this post via the carnival and it is just what I needed today! The jolt just sucks!!! Thanks for sharing this.
I’ve had a few too many of those jolts in recent years. Hope the current one sets you dowm gently and allows you to get back to the good stuff.
How true! Life is full of ups and downs, its the major sudden changes that throw us for a loop!
Wow, this is a cool post - and what’s cooler is that it was written more than 5 years ago! That’s neat. Are you still paying for the all day pass these days?
Wow– isn’t it neat to go back and read things you have written so long ago? That’s some timeless wisdom. Thanks for sharing
La Vie de Laurie
Laurigami
Girl, you can get off the roller coaster and run your own amusement park. LOL
Great post!
such raw truth