I have rickets. I’m rickety.

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Benjamin has an annual pass for Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks. He is a good rider. He goes places. When I found out he could get $20 bring-a-friend tickets, I was in. Alexander was in. Last night he realized if he renewed his pass, he got someone in for free. The three of us had a day for $20. Yay.

We went for the scrambler first, because it is the way. It was gone. Benjamin assured us it was still in the park, but he wasn’t sure where. Our first ride was the giant swings. Alexander and I rode with our eyes closed after it got too high and too scary. Benjamin said wheeeee. We were a bit wobbled.

I noted that they sold fried cheese on a stick by the swings. I had it once. It was so good. I mentioned it to the boys.

Wild Thing for us next. We were very busy talking on the way up the big hill, so I wasn’t too afraid. Then we sort of lingered and I was afraid. Then we went down. Then we bashed around a bit. Alexander and I were wobbled. Benjamin said wheeee.

We were remembering all the times in the long ago when they were little and medium and we went to Valley Fair. There were a lot of times, so we remembered a lot.

Benjamin said he got free soda whenever we wanted, so we wanted. It was a pretty warm September day, so we got thirsty. We could have as much as we wanted (a $20 add-on through 2026) (what a BARGAIN!), so I would have diet something, Benjamin would have soda something, and Alexander would have strawberry lemonade. It was so great. There were lots of bees.

It was all decorated for Halloween. I would point out super cute decorations and Benjamin would say, “It’s spooky and I hate it.” He wanted a do-not-scare-me necklace that they sell for $17. He was planning on always wearing it. I sent them off several times to be by Halloween cuteness. They were very accommodating, as they always are.

Benjin did not like the scary broken-ankle nightmare clowns.

When Benjin was here mid-summer the go-upside-down ship was still here. Now it is two diggers!

We went on Renegade, the biggest wooden coaster there. Benjamin pointed out it was rated 4 stars of intensity, rather than 5 like the other coasters. Okay! We were ready. Alexander and I were in row 5 or 6 and Benjamin popped up to row 3. We went up the big hill and screamed down the drop, then we were bashed and shaken and generally thrown about. I was just screaming continuously with bursts of added shock. We crept off the train and staggered to the exit. Benjamin was way ahead. We had to stop and rest and he took our picture.

Alexander hunkered down next to a retaining wall and just was there for a while. I was moderately wrecked but bounced back quickly. Alexander stayed on the ground for a while. He said he felt like he had been in a paint mixer. I said the paint mixer got thrown off the table. We both agreed that dying had seemed possible.

On we went. Everyone was game to go on High Roller – nothing better than the chain lift sounding like plates breaking. Alexander and I said, “That’s the stuff,” pretty much at the same time. Benjamin was in the seat in front of us. We went up. We went down. It rattled us. I screamed and my scream shook with my body. We got to the last three bunny hills, and Alexander said, “Oh good. These are fun.” Rattle shake shake rattle later and we were off. They were not fun. Benjamin said quietly, “I know you guys aren’t going to want to hear this, but I had a really smooth ride. I kept wondering how you were getting your screaming to warble so hard.” Gahhhhhh

We went on Lucy’s tugboat – a kiddie ride parents could go on. We were pale shades of green when exiting. Except for Benjin. He was fine.

Benjamin suggested skipping the Corkscrew because it was so raggedy. We heartily agreed. We sat and drank soda instead. We went on Steel Venom. I was doing great until it stopped suddenly at the top and a scream just burst out of me. I forgot about that part.

Benjamin and I went on the spinny boat thing on the track. Alexander said he just knew better than to try it. We got in the outside row. The attendant was checking seats, etc. He did the row in front of us and walked away. I pointed out that we had to restraints. The lap bars were stopped in their up position. MMmm? I called out that we needed safety. No response. He was back in the little booth. The sides of the ramp lowered. The lady next to me yelled loudly, “We have no seat belts!!” The guy looked at us like we were a little crazy. Ramps came up. He pushed something and asked if they had lowered. Indeed they had. We were ready. The lady with the 4-year-old with her said we missed out on a lawsuit. I was a little disappointed I had said anything. It is a mild ride, and we would have been fine – but what about that little kid? It was very exciting.

I was talking about fried cheese on a stick all day, so we headed back to there. It was $15. We said no and went around the park again, drinking soda and riding stuff that didn’t try to kill us a second time. Benjamin was looking at his phone and decided if he added the dining plan to his ticket – two meals per day, every time he went to a park – we could use it today to get a fried cheese on a stick with fries. I was in! He thought it was $90 for the year. Alexander thought he should move to a park. When he tried to get it, he found out it was $150 for using it in any park. Since he regularly goes to three different parks, he would have to do that. Alexander was appalled at such spending. I was still in for my fried cheese.

It wouldn’t work. He kept putting the code and it said fail over and over. We went to Corkscrew because the line was short and I used to like it a lot. Alexander and I looked at each other after the three inversions. It was like riding on air! So smooth. Surprise!!!

While we in line, we admired the weeping willow. We like it a lot.

I wish we won one of these for our daddy, but then our house would be fuller. We got him this picture instead.

Me with a scary green alien jelly fish hat.

We got more soda and headed to the parking lot. Sprinkles turned to rain literally as we got into the car.

It was such a FUN DAY! I loved it so much. Alexander doesn’t seem to really be able to ride rides anymore, which is interesting because the rest of us generally stopped spinning about 20 years ago and he was solid as a rock. Huh.

We dropped Davanni’s pizza pieces off to Keith in the parking lot of his rehearsal, then came home to eat. It was very disappointing pizza. Sad. Benjamin headed for home at just about 8pm. It started to RAIN and HAIL about ten minutes after he left. I was so upset. I was hoping somehow he was staying ahead of it. And he was! The daddy called him, and all was fine. No more rain in his forecast.

All that fun and fresh air has me whomped. The alarm for school tomorrow will be too early!