Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Today was surely "a Six Flags day". I got sort of a late start this morning. A typical trip to Six Flags begins at eight thirty in the morning. I got some much needed sleep, though, and didn't end up leaving the house with Bekah, Helen, Nichole, and J.R. until almost eleven thirty. All it takes is one roller coaster to make me realize why I make the drive and pay the parking fee. That feeling of flying is amazing. The rush you get from being over two hundred feet up in the air is indescribable.

Acrophobia was open for the first time this Six Flags season, it's been in maintenance I guess, which I have no problem with. I rode it for the first time today. I only have one thing to say: That is the scariest effing ride in the whole park. Okay, I lied, I have more than one thing to say. I almost didn't get to ride it! A counting malfunction happened. Because of that, J.R. and I ended up seat-less! We had waited in line for fifteen minutes only to step right through to the exit! Luckily, my friends are patient, so Nichole, Bekah, and I got back in line to ride it again while Helen and J.R. went to get a drink and take a break. The people who work that ride are absolutely evil, in the best way possible. Here's how the ride works: It's a two hundred foot tall tower with seats wrapping around the pole. Riders are strapped in to the bicycle-type seats while their feet dangle below them. The park worker then says goodbye to you as you begin your ascent. Said ascent is one hundred and sixty one feet. It may not sound like a lot, but, sweet baby Jesus, when you're up there, it's hard to breathe. Once you reach to the top, the seats tilt ever so slightly so that you have no choice but to stare directly at the ground and the lovely person who has total control over when the ride will drop takes the opportunity to taunt you. On the ground, looking up, it's easy to pay attention to what the ride-Nazi is saying. Honestly, I have no idea what he said while we were up there. He sung something, that's all I know. I was too busy mentally preparing myself for the drop to pay attention to his crazy antics. Up there, staring at the ground, waiting to plummet all the way back down, it feels like an eternity. Once the drop begins, it's over rapidly- up in eight seconds, down in two- but that doesn't make it any less terrifying. You are literally free falling. The catch that comes down to take you to the top lets you go and you fall until a giant magnet pulls the car to a stop only about twenty feet from the ground. It's a blast!

The other rides were remarkably less memorable than that that one. The last ride of the day, though, provided some moments that should stick with me for years. I normally try to save Goliath for last. It's huge. I'm talking monstrously huge. I've never gone to Six Flags without riding Goliath at least two times since it was built. Today, it was even more fun than usual. The woman that J.R. and I sat next to on our first ride was a little more than hilarious. She started screaming about half way up the ascent. As the coaster started down, she started screaming, "Oh, s***! Oh, s***!" at the top of her lungs. (It didn't feel right to type the dirty wordy.) She let out a screeching warrior cry, "AYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA!", about half way through the ride that left me crying because I was laughing so hard for the rest of the ride. I thought I was going to pee my pants, and I'm not just saying that. It was so funny. I always get off Goliath wanting to ride again, so we did. This time, J.R. sat the ride out and Bekah, Nichole, Helen, and I waited extra in line for a front-row ride. I've tried the front row before and hated it, so I'm glad I tried it again. At the top of the first hill, looking down for that millisecond when time seems to freeze, you get the best feeling in the world- an excitement that starts in your belly and spreads rapidly but slowly in both directions until it fills your whole body. J.R. and I had told the other three of our clan about the Xena-esque woman from the previous ride, so Helen yelled out her scream throughout the ride, leaving me in tears that weren't just from the G's you get in the front row. Making memories is what life is for. Today? Mission accomplished.

The day ended with Sonic delicious-ness. I'll have a grilled cheese wacky pack with tater tots and a cherry coke please. I ate a yummy dinner and drank up the last few minutes of time I got to spend with these amazing people before driving home and listening to my favorite music while singing my heart out. Ah, and now here I sit, barely able to keep my eyes open. This was supposed to be a SHORT entry. Guess it didn't turn out that way, huh?