DaVinci's Nightmare

On Wednesday morning, Addison and I packed our bags with sunscreen, food, water, food, diapers, water, food and toys - we were off for the day. Joanna had extended an invitation for us to join her and her 3 kids to Canobie Lake Park in N.H. I was psyched! I haven't been there since I was with my niece Meghann during elementary school. If you know me at all, you know I LOVE theme parks, rides, fairs, the circus - pretty much places with bright lights, obnoxious music, fried food and ventures that thrill - and I have been so excited to relive these adventures with our own children since not as many adults find these actvities as riveting as I do.

We arrived, parked, and as any normal parents do, proceeded to unpack the peanut butter and jellies and encourage all present to "fill up now!". Joanna's oldest could only see the tips of the log flume poking out of the trees and hear the surge of water and screams of adrenaline every three minutes. It was torture for him. But not yet time to enter the park. Next the sun screen had to go on, the diapers of 2 babies changed, the strollers loaded up...and we're on our way! My heart pumping, the sun shining, the tip of the corkscrew coaster shimmering in the sun, but wait, let's go the bathroom first! Okay, finally, we have our tickets, we're heading to the rides! Discuss a place to meet if we get split up? Locate the safe area on the map? Quiz the kids about whether they go to the car with a man promising candy? Oh yes, right, of course. We need to do that first. (Man, do I have a lot to learn about bringing my children to a place teeming with children and possibly child predators!)

Finally! the first ride - the Carousel. Addison chose a lion. He rode with wide eyes, holding the mane quite tight. It was great!!
Addison only got to go on one more ride that day - the giant ferris wheel - which was a bit boring for him, me too.

I, on the other hand, was able to go on many more and realized that in the 3 or 4 years it's been since I've ridden fabulous rides like these, a few things have changed. I couldn't wait to get on the DaVinci's Dream...

I remembered riding it as a child. Sitting in the suspended seats and flinging off the shoes, anticipating the chairs being lifted in the air, and then the rotation! swinging throught the air like you're flying. I took J- and passed on to him all my wonderful memories as we waited in line. We ran to our chairs, I flung off my shoes as the chairs rose and then we started moving.

Wow! We're pretty high up. And actually going pretty fast. Man, is this seat really supported by only 2 flimsy chains? There is no grass anywhere in sight! If this chain breaks, my chair is going to be propelled through the air like one of David's five stones. God, protect J-and I! Keep us safe, keep us safe, keep us safe...

Yup, this was my experience on more than this one ride. Why is that? Is it because I'm an adult? A parent? Why is the focus now on how the machine was put together and speculating when the last inspection was done? I hate to admit this fear and the feeling that I'm a grown up! So, I didn't, and I'm not going to.

Addison only has 2 rides down with many, many more to experience. I'll just save the DaVinci's Dream for him and his father.