Slice of Life Vol. 2. Thrill Rides.

The gate closes with a clang. The rusty light blue cage that surrounds the seat feels more like a death trap than a life saving barrier. The seat is hard and small, the seatbelt old and tight. The cage leaves just enough room for my legs, and just enough room for me to sit up straight. The ride operator moves over the control panel, and flips a switch. We move forward and up in a smooth arc, at a surprisingly fast speed. two or three times faster than a regular ferris wheel. But this is not a regular ferris wheel, I think. It's a ferris wheel from hell.

I flash back to the moment four summers ago, right after third grade. Somehow I had willed myself to wait in line of the Tower of Doom without totally losing my s***,  feeling the whoosh of air as the most recent set of falling seats came back down to Earth, and the daze, sometimes nauseated riders fumbled out of their seats; and hearing the automated voice say: "this ride contains high speeds and vertical drops, and is not recommended for pregnant women, or people with health conditions." Which just amplified my terror. But I had to impress the others in my summer camp, so I waited in line. Too soon it was our turn. I didn't know what I was afraid of exactly - I didn't think the ride would break, I just was horrified at the thought of dropping 220 feet in two or three seconds.

Someone next to me was counting. "I think the whole thing takes 17 seconds." He said. That makes it much better. I thought. Our ride was down now, and the operator was opening the gate. I walked to my seat in a dream like state. I fastened myself into seat. "All clear for dispatch" the operator said. He might as well have said: "Get ready to die," because that's what it felt like. Sealing my doom. The ride started moving, and my cousin yelled "I heard someone got their legs cut off!" and then made a cutting motion at her legs. We had talked about it earlier - someone had also had their hair and scalp ripped off. Now, it wasn't funny even a little bit. Go die in a hole I thought.

We moved up, and I didn't move. I couldn't, I was so scared. The warm summer sun beamed down on me. I could hear playful yells and laughing, and lots of talking. First I saw the top of the shelter we had just waited under, then the people milling about, then my cousin's mischievous face, then the Sea Dragon gently swaying, it's occupants screaming. Like a big swing is scary, I thought. Then I saw the enormous splash of shipwreck cove. More people came into view, more colorful umbrellas, tables, the mammoth wooden roller coaster, twister II in the distance. I still didn't move. I hardly thought, nothing mattered. Finally we reached the top, and I still didn't flinch. My life flashed before my eyes (just kidding). Then we dropped. I lifted off the seat, air rushed past me, and I had the sickening sensation of falling.

I then remember where I am, forty feet above the ground at the top of this weird ferris wheel that goes really fast, and has a cage around the seats. There was one more thing - the seats rocked. It could also be locked in position by the occupant, so the rider could keep it in the same position all the way around.  Thats right, you could ride it upside down at some points. I am glad that I am not on the Tower of Doom right now, but then Daniel makes that same mischievous smile my cousin made. Oh, s*** I think as he pulls the bar that locks the seat into position.

We begin to move into a position so that the back of the seat is facing the ground. "No Daniel!" The seat goes even further back, so our heads are closest to the ground. The sun blinds me. He lets go. The cage rocks so much that suddenly we were facing the ground, then back to a lying down position. I scream, like super hardcore. After a few more times like this of me desperately trying to control him, I begin to enjoy it. We go longer in the same position, so that we sit upside down, then let go so it rocks 180 degrees. We even rode it in the same position for a whole cycle. More than once, in fact. It ended up being some of the best moments that summer. I had conquered my fear of a thrill ride from hell once more.