My father has to travel a lot with his job. Sometimes he’ll be gone for weeks at a time. Although he’s gone a lot, he’s also one of the greatest dads in the world.
Many years ago (I think I was about 10?), Dad had to go to San Francisco for about 3 weeks for a big business meeting. It was during the summer time, so he had arranged for the whole family to go down with him. It was flipping sweet! Dad had to fly down with his company, so the rest of Family had to minivan it down. It took us two days to get to San Francisco. Brother and I fought for the front seat pretty much the whole way.
I remember the first day we got there, Dad took us to the “Full House” house, which turned out to be a buzz kill cause Uncle Joey wasn’t going to pop out anything soon. We also went to all the “George of the Jungle” sites too. Pretty sure Dad could moon light as a guide to the stars homes when he retires.
After about a week, Mom decided to take us kid to Six Flags. Six Flags!! The god of all amusement parks!....Before the old dancing man on the bus killed it for everyone.
It was beautiful. Rides as far as the eye can see, a killer whale and dolphin show, games full of the stuff typed toys that break within three days, every type of candy stands you could imagine, and, the greatest of them all, a real. Live. BATMAN SHOW! That’s right. I got to see Batman and Robin kick villain butt. Twice. You can’t just see it once. It was too magical.
After the second showing, Brother became ill from to much candy and spinning rides and Mom was trying to console him. We sat down on a curb to give him a little rest. But I didn’t want to just sit and wait for Brother to feel better. There were rides to go on, games to play, RIDES TO GO ON! Sister and I were sitting with Brother while Mom went to go get some ginger-ale for him when we spotted it.
Many years ago (I think I was about 10?), Dad had to go to San Francisco for about 3 weeks for a big business meeting. It was during the summer time, so he had arranged for the whole family to go down with him. It was flipping sweet! Dad had to fly down with his company, so the rest of Family had to minivan it down. It took us two days to get to San Francisco. Brother and I fought for the front seat pretty much the whole way.
I remember the first day we got there, Dad took us to the “Full House” house, which turned out to be a buzz kill cause Uncle Joey wasn’t going to pop out anything soon. We also went to all the “George of the Jungle” sites too. Pretty sure Dad could moon light as a guide to the stars homes when he retires.
After about a week, Mom decided to take us kid to Six Flags. Six Flags!! The god of all amusement parks!....Before the old dancing man on the bus killed it for everyone.
It was beautiful. Rides as far as the eye can see, a killer whale and dolphin show, games full of the stuff typed toys that break within three days, every type of candy stands you could imagine, and, the greatest of them all, a real. Live. BATMAN SHOW! That’s right. I got to see Batman and Robin kick villain butt. Twice. You can’t just see it once. It was too magical.
After the second showing, Brother became ill from to much candy and spinning rides and Mom was trying to console him. We sat down on a curb to give him a little rest. But I didn’t want to just sit and wait for Brother to feel better. There were rides to go on, games to play, RIDES TO GO ON! Sister and I were sitting with Brother while Mom went to go get some ginger-ale for him when we spotted it.
It was the most beautiful train we had ever seen. It was sky blue with a big black bell on its engine. The cars were big with massive cushions. The conductor wore his stripped overalls like a pro. We HAD to go on this train.
Mom had just returned with Brothers drink when I asked her if we could go on the train. Mom said no cause Brother needed to relax for a few moments. Sister and I begged to go on the ride. I told Mom that I was old enough to take care of Sister and that we would go straight on the ride and come straight back and it wouldn’t take very long and I would not talk to strangers and I would clean every room in the house so long as I went on that train. Mom was busy checking Brothers forehead and vital signs and agreed to lets us go on the ride.
Sister and I darted for the train. The line was short so we got on right away. We sat right at the front, right behind the conductor. As soon as the last passenger boarded, we were off. We were racing around the park in all our 15 k/hr glory. The track lead us all over the park, through the gardens and behind the animal exhibits. It. Was. Amazing.
At one point, I remember thinking that the ride was taking a lot longer than I had previously thought. But then again, the longer the train ride, the better. Then, the train stopped. Sister and I got out, thinking the ride was over. I looked around for Mom and Brother, but I couldn’t see them. In fact, I didn’t remember this part of the park. Then, it clicked. We were on the other side of the massive amusment park. As far as possible from where we boarded the train. Crap. I took the “protect Sister” part to heart, grabbed her hand and marched back to the train. Just as we were about to climb back into our seats, the line attendant caught me and told me to get to the back of the line. I tried very politely to inform him that we needed to get back on the train so it can take us back to where we started. I didn’t like him much. Not looking very amused, the attendant repeated his “back of the line” motto, pointing to the longest line in the park. The train line. Liking the attendant less and less, I dragged Sister to the back of the line and waited my turn, scowling at the attendant whenever he wasn’t looking.
Finally, the line had slimmed down enough for us to get on the next rain. We were stuck in the middle, the worst part of the train. I blamed the attendant fully for this. I was in such a foul mood I couldn’t enjoy the ride back.
When we had finally got back to our original spot, sister and I climbed out of the train and began walking back to Brother and Mom. The crowd in the park seemed to have thickened while we were gone on the ride. We had trouble fighting out way back to the meeting spot. I remember this next part vividly.
Brother was still sitting on the curb, looking greener than before we left, but Mom was not with him. I looked around the crowd, and then all of a sudden I saw Mom barreling towards sister and I, face red and eyes blinded with tears. Mom scoped us up and carried us towards Brother. I have never been hugged to tightly before in my life. I was confused. Why was Mom crying? Why was she squeezing my eyes out? Sister was the brave one. She asked why Mom was crying.
Sister: Why are you crying Mommy?
Mom: I thought you were stolen! Don’t ever do that again!
Me: Do what? What do you mean stolen?
Mom: Why didn’t you go on the balloons?
Me: (even more confused) The what?
Mom: The balloons! The balloon ride! The one you told me you were going on!
I looked over to where she was pointing. The ride she was talking about was a Ferris wheel style ride with hot air balloon shaped seats, and was right next to the train ride. Apparently, Mom thought she heard Sister and I say balloon ride rather than train ride. When she looked over to see if we were still in line, and didn’t see us, she assumes we were on the ride. Then when we didn’t get off when it was over, Mom did the only natural thing and FREAKED. And the train ride taking so long to get to the other side of the park, and then us having to wait for the train to leave and come back and then take us back again didn’t help much. Add on one sick child who she couldn’t leave to find us and the park staff refusing to shut the park down to stop a potential child napper from leaving, I’m surprised she didn’t implode.
To this day Sister and I insist we said train, not balloon. Needless to say, we had a beeper sewn into our clothes at every other amusement park outings after that.
UPDATE :
I read this post to Mom. She told me I had to clarify the time line a little bit. Sister and I were gone for 2 hours before we came back. Holy...
Mom had just returned with Brothers drink when I asked her if we could go on the train. Mom said no cause Brother needed to relax for a few moments. Sister and I begged to go on the ride. I told Mom that I was old enough to take care of Sister and that we would go straight on the ride and come straight back and it wouldn’t take very long and I would not talk to strangers and I would clean every room in the house so long as I went on that train. Mom was busy checking Brothers forehead and vital signs and agreed to lets us go on the ride.
Sister and I darted for the train. The line was short so we got on right away. We sat right at the front, right behind the conductor. As soon as the last passenger boarded, we were off. We were racing around the park in all our 15 k/hr glory. The track lead us all over the park, through the gardens and behind the animal exhibits. It. Was. Amazing.
At one point, I remember thinking that the ride was taking a lot longer than I had previously thought. But then again, the longer the train ride, the better. Then, the train stopped. Sister and I got out, thinking the ride was over. I looked around for Mom and Brother, but I couldn’t see them. In fact, I didn’t remember this part of the park. Then, it clicked. We were on the other side of the massive amusment park. As far as possible from where we boarded the train. Crap. I took the “protect Sister” part to heart, grabbed her hand and marched back to the train. Just as we were about to climb back into our seats, the line attendant caught me and told me to get to the back of the line. I tried very politely to inform him that we needed to get back on the train so it can take us back to where we started. I didn’t like him much. Not looking very amused, the attendant repeated his “back of the line” motto, pointing to the longest line in the park. The train line. Liking the attendant less and less, I dragged Sister to the back of the line and waited my turn, scowling at the attendant whenever he wasn’t looking.
Finally, the line had slimmed down enough for us to get on the next rain. We were stuck in the middle, the worst part of the train. I blamed the attendant fully for this. I was in such a foul mood I couldn’t enjoy the ride back.
When we had finally got back to our original spot, sister and I climbed out of the train and began walking back to Brother and Mom. The crowd in the park seemed to have thickened while we were gone on the ride. We had trouble fighting out way back to the meeting spot. I remember this next part vividly.
Brother was still sitting on the curb, looking greener than before we left, but Mom was not with him. I looked around the crowd, and then all of a sudden I saw Mom barreling towards sister and I, face red and eyes blinded with tears. Mom scoped us up and carried us towards Brother. I have never been hugged to tightly before in my life. I was confused. Why was Mom crying? Why was she squeezing my eyes out? Sister was the brave one. She asked why Mom was crying.
Sister: Why are you crying Mommy?
Mom: I thought you were stolen! Don’t ever do that again!
Me: Do what? What do you mean stolen?
Mom: Why didn’t you go on the balloons?
Me: (even more confused) The what?
Mom: The balloons! The balloon ride! The one you told me you were going on!
I looked over to where she was pointing. The ride she was talking about was a Ferris wheel style ride with hot air balloon shaped seats, and was right next to the train ride. Apparently, Mom thought she heard Sister and I say balloon ride rather than train ride. When she looked over to see if we were still in line, and didn’t see us, she assumes we were on the ride. Then when we didn’t get off when it was over, Mom did the only natural thing and FREAKED. And the train ride taking so long to get to the other side of the park, and then us having to wait for the train to leave and come back and then take us back again didn’t help much. Add on one sick child who she couldn’t leave to find us and the park staff refusing to shut the park down to stop a potential child napper from leaving, I’m surprised she didn’t implode.
To this day Sister and I insist we said train, not balloon. Needless to say, we had a beeper sewn into our clothes at every other amusement park outings after that.
UPDATE :
I read this post to Mom. She told me I had to clarify the time line a little bit. Sister and I were gone for 2 hours before we came back. Holy...
More pics plz! Love it, but needs less words! You're a really good artist!
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