Roller Coasters
Last year Brad and I decided we wanted to renew our childhood by making time to go ride roller coasters. I think it was riding on Space Mountain at Disney last fall that did it for us. Anyway, we finally got a chance during our recent trip to California when we took time to go to Six Flags Magic Mountain which is all about the art of the roller coaster. I probably haven’t ridden a “real” coaster (upside down and loop de loops) for a good 15 years or more and wow have they changed. Now they have you standing up, no floor beneath your feet, and all kinds of other craziness I never would have imagined safe.
I remembered I used to always close my eyes to help be less scared but otherwise they were fun. I vaguely remember them effecting my stomach but nothing that a little time in between couldn’t fix. So anyway, there we were, Brad and I along with his recent high school graduate niece and her boyfriend riding on our first ride of the day. It was a lot of fun that first one, got jolted around a lot and I mostly kept my eyes closed but it was still fun. But when it was over, oh wow. I couldn’t stop moving, had to keep walking. I got hot and flushed. My stomach was still trying to find itself again after all those loops and cork screws. I drank down a coke and we slowly walked to the next one while I wondered aloud if maybe I was 1.) too old for this or 2.) really out of practice. Up until the moment I was strapped in I wasn’t sure if I was going to ride the second one or not. It was my first stand up coaster and I was bound and determined that I could do this.
It was a very humble experience. I kept my eyes closed the ENTIRE time on this one. But I relaxed and enjoyed it. As we came to a stop Brad is on one side of me saying “oh, that one got me” while the niece is on my other side saying “let’s do it again!!” Yes, we were humbled.
It was hot and humid but we found an air conditioned food court and sat for a bit, sending the young people off to ride more without us. Waves of nausea ran through us repeatedly. We even tried walking some more around the park at one point only to have to turn back, laughing at ourselves the entire time. Some greasy fried chicken and french fries finally settled our stomachs but even later that night we felt a bit off and our stomachs still seemed confused. It was a lot like a really, really bad case of seasick.
So there you have it. I will never ride another roller coaster that goes upside down again. No really, I learned my lesson the hard way. I wish I had been more brave when I was younger and my body didn’t protest so much. But now that I’m less fearful in my mind, my body is a lot less convinced of my invincibility. Such a great balance.
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That is the one nice thing about my bionic ear. I now have an excuse to not ride upside down roller coasters. I am pretty fearless when it comes to rides but ever since getting my robo-ear, I can not go upside down. Or rather, I can go upside down, but it causes severe pain that radiates down my face.