There was no doubt about it - the Wright boys had decided they were going to get the full Six Flags Experience.I'm not sure which one of was more excited, but suffice it to say that we couldn't not wait to pull into the parking lot. (Mom was excited, too...but there's just something cool about a Dad and his boy riding roller-coasters, right?)
First off, Jonah was great. Those of us who know him well know that patience is not his strongest suit, but he really was great for the whole day.
Up until this trip, the toughest thing Jonah had ever ridden was a very very tame "kiddie koaster" at Fiesta Texas last year. Now, he loved it, but had yet to experience that flipping-stomach-involuntary-scream-experience. I wasn't sure he would want that on this go-round, but we decided to live a little.
First off, El Sombrero. Or "the el sombrero," as Jonah kept calling it. (Which as most of you Spanish speakers know is incorrect.) And that's when I knew...because this rides angled-spinning-lift-and-drop provide the perfect amount of flipping stomach effect. Not too much...just enough to get hooked.
And Jonah did get hooked. He screamed with pure joy for the whole ride and all I could do was laugh. It was great.
From there, we moved to other rides. He rode the Log Flume with Kristen and fell in love with it, asking over and over to get back in line. From there, we took Finley to Looney Tunes Land for some tamer rides. While there, all four of us rode some Wile E. Coyote roller coaster that amped up Jonah even more for the big stuff.
We kept walking the park. At one point, Jonah and I were going to do the giant parachute thing, but Jonah kept saying, "Um, maybe we'll ride that one later," which, in six-year-old speak means I'm terrified at even the idea of riding that thing, Dad.
Then, he and Kristen rode Crazy Legs, which he loved. Kristen...not so much. About halfway through, I noticed she had that vomit look, but she held it together.
And then, things got a little crazy. It happened when I said, "Jonah, do you want to ride Flashback?"
I don't know why I said it.
But he said yes.
They strapped us in and when they started backing us up that track, Jonah started saying he didn't want to do it. Too late.
All of sudden, the locks released and we plunged in so fast, immediately into a loop and then a spin and then I heard the tears. So while I'm fighting the G-force and trying to raise my head to comfort him, we launch up the other side, hold for a beat and then...plunge through all of it again, backwards.
And I kid you not, during one of the loops, I looked over at him and realized I'm looking at my six-year old son and we're running upside on a looping roller coaster. What's wrong with me?
Once we both got our bearings and walked out of the ride, he quickly told me he hated it.
An hour later, he was asking to ride it again. I said no.
From there, we did some carnival game stuff, the El Sombrero two more times, another ride on the Log Flume with the whole family and then another pass on Crazy Legs, which immediately gave ME the vomit look. We capped it off with Aquaman, which drenched us nicely, but we were on our way out of the park, so it was a great finish.
Kristen and I spent the day laughing with Jonah, throwing our hands in the air and screaming as we made all those plunges. We paid ridiculous amounts of money for watered-down drinks and we walked miles and miles in search of the next big thrill.
Since New Years Day 2002, that little boy has been filling my life with laughter and wonder. A day at Six Flags may not be ideal for some, but for me, it was one more chance to look at my son and know that I am highly blessed of God to call this child my own.
Kristen looks beautiful. Finley looks a bit terrified by the holiday, doesn't she?
