They are a true testament of our culture. My analogy here today is going to be why amusement parks are like life. Or maybe how we think our life should be, but it isn't.
1) Everything is over-priced. From the ticket to get in to the drinks to the t-shirts to the food. It seems ridiculous to spend that type of money on a one day activity. Maybe if it's a special treat, but not something you can do all the time.
BUT, entertainment comes at a price. If you want something/someone to entertain you, you should pay for it. After all, we all are in business to make money.
2) The lines are long to get to ride the good rides. Everyone else wants to ride the good ride too. Whom can blame them, the good rides are fun.
Getting what you want takes patience. In the rest of life, we usually give up, just before we get something we have been waiting for. If all these other people are waiting, shouldn't we wait too? (That's not usually the case).
3) The ride is over really fast. The anticipation has been great. Then suddenly you are back in the real world.
There are all these things we want in life: to get married, to buy a house, to travel, to have kids (or not), to have a career, to...... (name your moment) - then it's over before you know it. You get one/all/some/none of those things, then you are to the next phase.
4) The "rush" lasts a really long time. The adrenaline high you get from riding the ride, lets you enjoy the moment for a while. (Now we understand why there are drug addicts in this world).
The endorphins keep going. You accomplish goals. It's satisfying and makes you understand why you keep doing #1,2,3 over and over again. For all of it. We continue to go stand in line.
My youngest son and I went to the local amusement park on Sunday. He had a season pass - and a coupon for a discount ticket. He finally agreed I could go with him (as I know it's not cool to hang out with your mom, but I truly do love roller coasters).
We don't go until late in the day after his hockey practice. My favorite ride was not working when we got there. I was bummed. We went to another ride.
The wait was FOREVER. (What, am I 14??). We finally got on the ride. It was fun, but really, I can't even tell you the name of the ride. Just as we were about to get on - in the last (BEST) seat, these two kids come get in our seats. I'm like "What the heck???" The girl working the ride said, "They must have had an Exit Pass or something". "Huh?". I don't even ask. We just wait another round. Sometimes you get bumped in life.
We then go, to the "BrainDrain" - it's basically a circle, that you go forward, then backwards. Then forward - just a little bit further, then backwards, then round and round and round. Both forward and backwards.
We stood in line for what seems like forever. We are getting on the ride. As we are sitting down, they close the park for the bigger rides; Lighting was spotted within 10 minutes of the park.
Seriously? All that time - now it was wasted.
We were told we could stand there and wait.
Yes, you can stand there and wait in life. And what you always wanted will open up for you.
OR
You can ask for an "Exit Pass"
Still unsure of what an "Exit Pass" was, I asked for one. I guess it is for situations like this, when there is a delay, beyond their control - and you can come back, and skip the line - you just get to get on the ride.
We got an Exit Pass - it was good for 4 people. There were only two of us.
We nearly left the park. (It's easy to quit)
Instead, my dear teenage son rode the swings with me. We ate corny dogs, then the big rides were open again. (Patience - or distractions in life once again).
Technically, when you are given an Exit Pass, it's only good for the ride you didn't get to ride. That makes sense. It's a do-over. We all deserve those.
Our conversation:
"Let's do this. What ride do you really want to ride? I said to my son. "The Twister". "I really want to ride the "Mind Eraser", and well, we have to ride the "Brian Drain" - as that is where we were able to get the Exit Pass."
We will start at the Mind Eraser, as that is the #1 ride and use our pass. We will then go to the Twister - as that line won't be so long. Then if the park is still open, we will do the Brain Drain.
We go to the Mind Eraser - as I said, my favorite all time ride. You sit there, but there are no sides - no front. I guess you kind of hang there. Only when you go through the exit, well, you get to pick your seat. We rode first seat. She didn't take our pass.
From there we go to the Twister - through the Exit once again. This time we hand over our pass. The teenager looks at the ticket and says "This is for four people". "There are only two of us", I reply. She says, "Well, use it for one more ride". And hands it back to us. (there are breaks in life)
We go back to the BrainDrain. They take our pass this time. It's okay - it was over due. In fact, we had said, if we don't have to give it up this time, we need to pay it forward to some others to enjoy for at least one ride.
It was then time to go home.
We know that sometimes in life, people cut you off. It can be annoying, but as usual, there is something better in store.
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