Three years ago my biological dad (Ronnie) died suddenly from respiratory arrest due to emphysema. He had struggled with emphysema for fifteen or more years. I didn't have much of a relationship with him and nor did I really try to. To this day it is one of my biggest regrets. I still go over in my head all the things I wish I had said to him. I spent a week in Missouri with my sisters trying to iron out all the details of his memorial service and other complicated situations. That week felt like a month. I didn't think it would ever end.
At the end of the week my husband decided to take me to Six Flags in St. Louis. He thought it would be a good way to cheer me up. I was a little excited--no, I was SUPER excited. Amusement Parks are one of the few ways into my heart. The day we went, it being the middle of July and all, was about 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The Six Flags in St. Louis doesn't have many trees and water was about $7.00 per bottle. So, obviously, we didn't drink much.
There were a couple of rides I remember in particular. One being a spinning ride called the Xcaliber which spun in two different directions. We waited in line in the sun for about 20 minutes. It seemed longer than that. After being seated on the ride I immediately felt how exhausted my body was so as soon as the ride started, feeling the wind graze across my face, I fell asleep.
I waited for Hubs outside of a bathroom for probably 5 minutes.
The entrance to this wooden roller coaster, called The Boss, was annoying. It was not just a walk but a journey along a deck that got higher and higher as we approached the roller coaster. I could see the ride and yet very far from it. After walking a very long way and being somewhat high we boarded the coaster. The ride was fun! We were going up and down over and over until we went into a spiral that probably circled three times. Luckily that was at the very end of the ride. After the ride came to a stop is when the actual fun began.
We get off the roller coaster and just as we step through the exit.....
Not only was it inconvenient that my husband puked all over the exit, which meant walking through it, but also that we had that horrible long walk to make back down the deck, AND the wood railing was up so high any person would have to make a running leap to even hoist themselves up on it. All that to say, hubs was screwed and so were the rest of us that were behind him.
But that’s not even the best part. I’ll never forget the look he gave us when he turned around and looked us all in the eye.
Even though this was probably one of his most embarrassing moments that look showed us that he didn’t care what we thought. I think he got a little bit of enjoyment out of it because of all the girls screaming. He likes to upset people and I’m okay with that...as long as it isn’t me! Turns out he had heat exhaustion. We had to leave the park immediately because he kept turning a different shade of pale. It was quite remarkable actually. By the time we got home (6 hours later) he was back to his normal color.
But this story is really about me and how I benefited from it. That day my husband fulfilled one of my darkest wishes: to see someone throw up on a roller coaster. I've seen it on movies, heard about it from other people, but never actually witnessed it with my eyes. It was incredible!
So here is a special thanks to my husband for always trying to make me happy even if it’s at his own expense.
