Old Postcards

Here’s another old postcard- this time from Paragon Park. This one is from an era well before my time. I spent many a day there when I should have been somewhere else, but I never went at night. For all the time spent, you would think I would have more memories of it than I do, but only two things stand out.

I remember the huge roller coaster. I think this was the only roller coaster that I ever went on and the only reason I went on it back then was because my girlfriend wanted to go on it. Not wanting to appear to be the coward that I was (and still am, by the way), I nonchalantly agreed. This was one of those old wooden types, and not very well maintained, at least that was my assessment on that first long, slow climb.  I watched what clearly looked like loose bolts straining against the old timbers. After that... who knows? The rest is all a blur. Try as I did to look cool with it, I’m sure I failed miserably. I was never asked to go on a roller coaster again, at least by her ... and that was fine by me.

Then there was the time I was watching a father and daughter riding in the Teacups. She must have been eight or so. I’m guessing he was in his early thirties. The girl had the kind of laugh you would expect to hear from an eight year old having a great time. Dad sat stoically, his eyes wider than the saucer they were riding in. He never let go of the rail in front of him.

When the ride ended, the little girl bounded out of the teacup and down the three or four wooden stairs and headed to another ride.

In the time it took the little girl to disappear towards the merry-go-round, the father staggered out of the teacup, making his way slowly along the perimeter of the deck, all the while gripping the railing hand over hand as if battling stormy seas, until he finally he made it to the stairs.

He stopped at the top of the stairs, as if he had to think about it, and then he bolted down the stairs, jerking to a sudden stop at the bottom. His expression was still frozen as he stood for about two and a half seconds before his knees buckled completely- which left him kneeling in a bolt upright position for a few more seconds. And then suddenly- he bent forward and threw up.

So that's it. That's the extent of my memories. Other couples went there, walked the boardwalk and fell in love. Families look back through their faded photo albums reminiscing about the good times they shared. All I remember is being scared to death that one time on the roller coaster, and some guy trying to impress his kid and instead he ends up puking. Weird.

I always wondered what happened to that guy.