This photo was taken on my i-phone this afternoon, as I was standing in line getting ready to board the swing ride at The Texas State Fair…
It looks like a benign enough ride, doesn’t it?
Walking by it brought on fond memories of county fairs of my youth. I remembered this ride! I remember liking that it wasn’t a scary ride- but the wind made you feel like you were a bird soaring in the sky! It was one of my absolute favorites!
I’d gone to the Texas State Fair for a fun program with Chevy, where I would pick up a Traverse to test drive for a couple weeks. More on that soon. But anyway, having this particular function, meant that my daughter was with a babysitter at home. My husband was at work- and I found myself alone in the middle of a fair! Which- let’s be honest really NEVER happens. I mean, under normal circumstances no one goes to a fair alone! But I’ve never been to the Texas State Fair, and I thought before I went home I’d walk around and get the feel of it. Scope out what rides might be fun for pumpkin if we went back.
I saw a lot of really neat stuff at the fair and took a billion pictures, so I’ll write a post on that soon. But as I was walking around and saw this particularly resonant, and joyful ride of my childhood an idea slowly formed in my brain!
I could buy just enough tickets to ride this ride… No one would think it was weird I was going alone, because this ride is all individual seats. I could…bring my flip cam and VIDEOTAPE THE RIDE while I was on it!! It would be a beautiful video showing my birds eye view of the Fair!!! I WAS GOING TO RIDE!!! I WOULD MAKE MYSELF DO IT!
I bought the ticket, the rides had just opened and I was in the first group on. As you see from the picture when I was waiting in line – the ride was not open yet. And thus not moving. Can anyone wiser than me see where this is going yet?
I board, holding a huge pocketbook and a flip cam. By myself – on what is ostensibly – a kids ride. We start to rise.
Weeeeeee, so pretty! Oooh I’m a bird!!! The wind is so wonderful in my hair! I love the earth!!!! I love Fairs!!! Whhhoooooooo!!!
…Why are we getting higher?
Ummmmmm, why are we getting THIS high? Also…. does the operator know he has us going like at a crazy warp speed? Is something going wrong?
OH MY GOOOOSH!! I’M GOING TO DIE!!!!!!! I AM. SO. SO. HIGH. AGGGGGHHHHHHH! HELP! HELP!
At this point I realize that I am laughing uncontrollably -SLASH- crying with total fear of death!
Ride ends. I can hardly walk off the platform I am so dizzy. I realize that I look like a crazy woman riding the swings alone, getting off white as a sheet with tears that have been blown vertically across my face with the force of the freaking wind!!
Also- I forgot to push record on my camera. Seriously.
Joyful ride of my youth= Absolutely the most terrifying 2 minutes of my adult life.
…consider this a tale of caution people.
About Shannon SchmidShannon traded in her sensible NYC TV producer shoes (they were best for taking the subway), for a pair of Texas Cowboy boots when she married her best friend! He's at fault for making this Yankee a Texan! Shannon writes about all things that make a house a home. Her chief blogging inspiration is being the proud & slightly neurotic mom of a preschool age daughter.
You can find Shannon on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and her new favorite place to hang out, Google+.
Oh dear, Not that I’m laughing at you or anything, but that truly is kind of a funny little story; though I dare say you aren’t the only one who could find yourself in that type of situation. Thanks for sharing your adventure…too bad about the camera…though maybe it was best…God forbid the G-Force of the ride have removed it from your clutches and sent it flying away. xoxo, M
@Mumsy’s Refuge, HAHA. Feel totally free to laugh at me! It was just so ridiculous!
I was worried everything was going to fly out of your purse.
I was worried about that too!! I’f I’d been less frightened for my life…I would have been a bit more concerned though:)
@JDaniel4’s Mom, I was worried about that too!! I’f I’d been less frightened for my life…I would have been a bit more concerned though:)
Ha! Sorry for laughing, but this just makes me smile.
@nicole, No worries- I realize that the whole thing was so so dorky of me…lol.
I did one of these…ONCE. I was maybe eight? And, like you, no one explained that the swings A: GO HIGHER and B: GO FASTER.
I never got back on another one ever again. Tricky tricksters, those carnies.
So glad you didn’t get on something that went upside down! HA!
I can’t believe you. LOL. I can totally see you doing that. Those really do go WAY up there. I hope you ate a fried twinkie when your stomach settled. 🙂
Sometimes going into our childhood memories is great, but sometimes it’s not. Glad you were ok. love Rosie
I was laughing so hard after reading this I had tears coming down my cheeks! Great post! I can totally relate & I would have felt the exact same way! Hindsight is always 20/20. :). I hope all is ok now, I know it takes awhile to recover from one of those experiences!
I laugh on scary rides too…but it’s also mixed with tears. I would’ve probably wet my pants on top of it.
lol well at least you looked like a happy crazy woman when you got off the ride! 🙂
Since I was pregnant, I can barely even handle a merry-go-round. I don’t even try anymore. I miss rides. 🙁
“OH MY GOOOOSH!! I’M GOING TO DIE!!!!!!! I AM. SO. SO. HIGH. AGGGGGHHHHHHH! HELP! HELP!“
Hillarious and well written blog. Thanks, I needed that smile and laugh this morning. Glad you survived. We’d all miss you!
Ok, honestly, first thought when I starting reading this post was… Oh my goodness, something wrong was happening like it broke. Then I started laughing at the end. Crazy what our experience is like as a child compared to being an adult. You would honestly think it was a crazier ride as a child instead of as an adult.
So… When are you planning on doing it again? Lol
Coming from Mom Loop Comment Follow. I really dislike those rides they make me really queazy and yet I love all types of roller coasters you’re much braver than me to go on one.
I first rode this when I was a teenager thinking it was a cute “kids ride” that would be good for killing time while waiting to do something better. Like you I quickly realized that this was a hidden delight for the thrill seeker and it became one of my favorites. And I’m a guy who likes serious roller coasters.
I’m sorry you had a bad experience but I haven’t been able to stop smiling since I read this. Thanks for sharing.
@Richard Hubley, Haha- I think that was my problem Richard! I remembered it as far milder than it actually is! And I was like stunned by my scrambled brain after it! lol. It was still fun…till it got crazy scary! lol. Hugs!
I hate heights – so I would think I was going to die too. lol
Totally fab photo. And I lol when I read your post about the ride. I’m quite taken with the retro style merry go-rounds, bumper cars etc right now so your photo really spoke to me.
OMG! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha! I love you so much Shan 🙂 I needed that laugh – and I’m laughing with you, NOT at you 🙂
Note to self: avoid the swings at Hershey Park with Shannon 🙂