Wednesday, August 09, 2006
The World of Amusement
Sunday I went to Six Flags with some friends. I discovered, interestingly enough, that I am now somewhat afraid of heights. And by "somewhat," I mean that I was screaming "No, no, God no, it's too much, it's just unnecessary," as a roller coaster suspended me face down hundreds of feet above the ground. I mean, forgive me, but I don't like it when the only thing standing between me and certain death is a safety harness fastened by a disinterested-looking 14-year-old. It's also not too reassuring when the ride suffers three independent "malfunctions" during the time you're waiting to get on it alone. I wouldn't ride to the store in a car that breaks down every five minutes; I'm not really sure I should be riding over a cliff on one.
By and large the trip was amazing, however. It provided an excuse to eat multiple churros, a food that exists in enormous numbers at Six Flags and barely at all in the outside world. It allowed us to utterly ignore a world of wholesome entertainment where people in white pants sing about loving America in favor of yet another spin on the Raging Bull. And it even gave us the chance to win a gorgeous pink cowboy hat simply by dint of stumping an unenthusiastic park employee as to our weights. We live in a land of opportunity indeed.
Sunday I went to Six Flags with some friends. I discovered, interestingly enough, that I am now somewhat afraid of heights. And by "somewhat," I mean that I was screaming "No, no, God no, it's too much, it's just unnecessary," as a roller coaster suspended me face down hundreds of feet above the ground. I mean, forgive me, but I don't like it when the only thing standing between me and certain death is a safety harness fastened by a disinterested-looking 14-year-old. It's also not too reassuring when the ride suffers three independent "malfunctions" during the time you're waiting to get on it alone. I wouldn't ride to the store in a car that breaks down every five minutes; I'm not really sure I should be riding over a cliff on one.
By and large the trip was amazing, however. It provided an excuse to eat multiple churros, a food that exists in enormous numbers at Six Flags and barely at all in the outside world. It allowed us to utterly ignore a world of wholesome entertainment where people in white pants sing about loving America in favor of yet another spin on the Raging Bull. And it even gave us the chance to win a gorgeous pink cowboy hat simply by dint of stumping an unenthusiastic park employee as to our weights. We live in a land of opportunity indeed.
