The Night We Rode the Spider




Twas the day before school started
and all through the homestead
people were sluggish and filled with dread

Then what to my wondering eyes should appear
but our Idlewild passes!
"Wanna go, dear?"

So off in our minivan we flew like a flash
to blitz Idlewild once more 
in an end-of-summer dash!



The night before school began, we took one last trip to our favorite children's amusement park, Idlewild!
After riding the train, climbing around in Jumpin' Jungle, and riding all the rides in Raccoon Lagoon, we decided to try something new. 

THE SPIDER!


Our newly-minted 4-year-old said this was the one ride he wanted to go on before summer ended. 
He knew the way there. Lead us right to it.

We took great pains to talk our daughters (ages 8 and 5) into trying it.  How bad could it be?

Loading took a while, but once we got going, my 8-year-old buried her head like an ostrich in the sand.  I began with "Wheee-ee" and "Woooo's," but as the ride picked up speed and spun faster,

I felt like I was going to die.  

(No pictures for this event, friends. You wouldn't want to see any.  OK - maybe you would...)

My hands began to sweat for fear that I'd let go and fly out of our car. 

Our little ones were scrunched down as far as they could go, ducking their heads under daddy's protective arm.  My big girl was on the verge tears and I felt like I was going to throw up.  I mean, I was seconds away from tossing my cookies.  I kept telling Aryn, "The ride is almost over.  See?  It's slowing down." 

I hoped and prayed it was true, and finally, blessedly, we came to a stop.  Aryn breathed a sigh of relief while I concentrated all much efforts on clenching my stomach and not emitting its' contents.

The ride operator thought he was being helpful or cute or something, so he gave our car a few extra spins one way, and then spun us the opposite way before letting us out of the car.  Thinking murderous thoughts, I stepped down from the ride and slowly made my way to the exit.  Whee! 

We went to the nearest stage show so I could put my head between my knees and breathe while the kids enjoyed a Doo-Wop musical.

I'm never riding The Spider again.


BUT

On the positive side, we tried a new thing together!  We were brave and had an adventure. 
We walked and rode rides until we were all tired out and hungry, then we went out to eat and enjoyed each other's company. 

Despite the setback from the dreaded SPIDER, our oldest daughter ended our trip by exclaiming,

"This was the best day EVER!"




So that was our final summer fling.  The school books are all neatly stacked and lined up for the first day of school and I am looking forward to it.

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