have you ever noticed?
I was wondering if you noticed that not only do I post randomly, but that when there is some sort of shift in my life/thinking I post a lot? Is it just me and my perception? I don't know and more importantly, I'm not sure if I care. It seems that way to me so I'm going to choose to believe it to be true.So yesterday I went to 6-Flags in Maryland. It had been a few years since I had been to any amusement park (well, aside from my bi-annual trips to Disney, but I don't really put them into the same category). The last one I had been to was King's Dominion (I think). I have to say, what I remember of KD it is WAY better than 6-Flags. I think that park is just getting worse but the day. I know it's not in the best area of MD, but I don't remember it ever being this bad. It's like whomever is managing it has decided there is nothing he (or she) can do and given up.
The grass is mostly burnt, there are little to no trees, there is bare dirt everywhere, and to go from ride to ride there is nothing. You just walk along a seemingly random pathway until you get to the line. It is so boring and unattractive.
When I first became aware of this particular park it was called Wild World and was, for the most part, a water park. I was little and it was a lot of fun. Then they added a number of dry rides and called it Adventure World. A few years after that 6-Flags bought it and that's what it is known as today.
Yesterday I realized that, although the lines were very short, I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon. It just didn't feel right - like it felt a little trashy/junky. I'd rather take the extra time and drive down to KD. Or maybe now that I actually ride rollercoasters I'll head up to Hershey or down to Bush Gardens.
I did love the Batwing though. If you're not familiar, it's a fantastic rollercoaster where they strap you in, then the seats tilt and you "fly" along the track. Like you feel your weight supported by the straps and harness, not the seat. It was soooo much fun! Had we only ridden that I would have been happy.
There is also this fantastic water ride - the Tornado. WAY amazing super fun. I would almost be convinced to go back just to ride this - over and over and over again. And then one more time just because.
It's "a massive water thrill ride" that is bright blue and yellow and looks like a giant funnel. You ride in a 4-person "clover" shaped raft and you go through a tunnel, with a steep drop in it that dumps into the big part of the funnel - then you sling up the one side, over to the other, then back again until you dump out at the bottom. SO MUCH FUN. Who ever dreamed this up was probably on drugs but I don't care because it's brilliant.
We got there (I met friends from my old, intelligent job for this excursion) when it opened and went right to the wet ride. Bad idea. After a few spins on the one wooden rollercoaster Dave and I decided that wet shoes suck and went back to the cars to change. We did all the dry rides we were interested in then spent the rest of the day at the water park.
Around 530-6 it was getting suddenly dark, I was getting done with the whole ride thing and Dave needed to leave to get home in time to see his kids to bed. I was thinking about blowing out with him, but didn't want to seem like a party pooper.
Then I started hearing what I believed to be thunder.
There was no reaction by the "life guards" or any other workers so I naturally assumed that it must be a ride, because they must monitor for those sorts of things. Thunder is lightning, as we all know, and very dangerous. Especially when you're swimming or riding a giant metal coaster.
Then I heard it again, and more frequently. I decided that I would trust my instincts and get the heck out of there. I was ready to go anyway and I was less and less convinced in the competency of the various guards.
One of the girls also decided to join us so we headed out. As we hit the exit there was a huge roll of what could only possibly be thunder and I made some comment in passing. Prior to that point I had made my decision, but was still doing the typical Ali thing of second-guessing myself. It's tough teaching yourself to trust your own instincts after years of beating them into submission and I need all the support and encouragement I can get.
There were 3 workers standing by who overheard my comment to my friends (and myself). The one guy responded, "oh nah, it wasn't thunder, it was just the rollercoaster". Ha. Double Ha. I am not that big of a dumbass. And if I was a mean spirited person I would have wished that something bad happened to a park guest just so next time they take the weather a little bit more seriously. But I'm not so I didn't.
Besides, they just had the lady who had a heart attack on the one waterslide so it was closed pending the investigation. They really don't need another death this soon.
As we hit the parking lot the rain started to drip.
When we made it to the highway the rain was pouring. We stopped along the way and had dinner, watching the light show the entire time. I feel bad for the people who got caught in it, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
I was happy for the day because I got to catch up with them and all the things that had been happening since I left that part of my life. Part of me really wants to go back, but I don't know. I don't want to risk being disenchanted. I don't want to face that they really don't need or want me.
I just don't know, is it possible to go back???
posted by Ali @ 7:45 AM
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