Last month at our regular get-together, my aerobics-teaching college friends started reminiscing about Knott’s Berry Farm. Three of us grew up in Southern California and had lots of fun memories going to the amusement park and the teen dance clubs inside the park, Studio K and Cloud 9. But one of our friends had never been in all her years living in California. That meant just one thing–we would have to meet there for our next outing. It was nothing short of a miracle that four out of the five us could actually agree on a date that worked.
We all met at the park in the morning so we could make the most of our day. While we were deciding on which ride to get on first, I asked the group, “Is everyone still okay to get on a roller coaster?” When you’re in your 50s, you make sure no one has developed motion sickness or has any aches or pains that can’t handle the twists, turns, and jerks of a ride. When you’re 15, you want to know if your friends want the thrill of the very front seats or the back. I had already tested my mettle just a couple months ago at Disneyland, but I didn’t know how my friends would fare. They all said they were pretty sure they were okay, but really didn’t know for sure. We’d have to test it out.
The first ride was Ghost Rider, supposedly the longest, tallest wooden roller coaster on the West Coast. If you know anything about wooden roller coasters, they are not known to be smooth. Sure enough, one friend got off the ride and said, “That was really rickety! My neck kinda hurts.”
Later that day we had to get the funnel cake with boysenberry topping, of course. But instead of each ordering our own, we shared one serving. Another consequence of aging–the inability to put away the same amount of theme park junk food in one sitting.
By the end of the day, only two of us were still up for riding one last roller coaster. While it was definitely a different experience than when were in our teens, we had a great time nonetheless!
9 responses to “Forever young-ish”
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I love your comparison of this park as a teen and now as a 50-something! I grew up o the East Coast – VA’s Kings Dominion was where I’d be on a summer visit. I do NOT think I could handle the Rebel Yell anymore (the long, rickety wodden roller coaster. I think I’d aim for the Scoopey Do kiddie coaster!! Thanks for reminding me of my summer through your slice!
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I’m with Sally! The comparison between then and now, from food to what “fun” we can enjoy, makes this its own roller coaster ride. I also nodded my head at, “It was nothing short of a miracle that four out of the five us could actually agree on a date that worked.” When we’re young, time stretches out with all these opportunities and plans. As we age, the calendar fills with responsibilities and commitments.
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I loved this post, and it took me back to my days having season tickets at Six Flags over Mid-America. My brother worked there, so my friend and I got rides there any time we wanted.
I got to relive that memory once my kids were old enough to get their own season passes to the Six Flags Great America park – a rite of passage, I suppose. I also remember the trepidation I felt getting on the roller coasters with them. Would I be able to tolerate them?
Thankfully, I was. But that was ten years ago. Who knows, now? But I sure do hope so!
Thanks for stirring up some fond memories.
Incidentally, I just saw a news story about a car insurance mix-up. A guy who used one of those digital driving monitoring systems to lower his premiums? Well, he got on a roller coaster and the insurance company thought it was him driving, and jacked up his rates!
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The insurance mix-up is wild!
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Vivian, I am a lifelong roller coaster enthusiast. Those wooden coasters do treat a body rough! I cannot think of a better word than the one your friend used – “rickety” – to describe the experience. My uncle was head of roller coaster maintenance at a theme park for many years – he had a lot of stories, one being how nails have to be hammered back down every day in the wooden coasters. Love the contemplative moment about riding at 50 vs. 15. My thinking is – it’s definitely worth the ibuprofen tucked inside my wallet!
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I love finding a fellow roller coaster enthusiast! I’m not sure how I feel about this idea that nails have to be hammered down daily…LOL.
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After reading Fran’s comment, I’m not sure I’ll be going on any more rickety wooden roller coasters! I’ll keep going on the smoother ones until I can’t.
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