Thursday, June 14, 2012

I’m thinking about two inexorable forces right now–aging and gravity–and they’re on my brain for a reason. This weekend promises to have a hearty share of roller coasters, literal ones, which calls for mental preparation. Don’t get me wrong–I love ’em. It’s speeding without the fear of legal repercussion and, I imagine, only a slightly higher probability of corporeal harm. But it’s been a while since I’ve visited an amusement park.

I still remember my favorite ride. Hell, its still in operation, according to the Wikipedia, but to put this into perspective, the last time I strapped into it was before Wikipedia itself existed. Different state, different era. This time, it’s off to Carowinds, “Thrill Capital of the Southeast,” if their marketing is to be believed.

And I believe it. I’m getting the jitters just thinking about that first lift hill and its payoff. There’s also a sense of urgency, too, driven by a a recent episode of Modern Family, in which the father discovers, much to his chagrin, that aging has claimed his equilibrium. The episode struck me with the force of an afterschool special, and the moral of the story was clear: ride as many fuckin’ rollercoasters as I can, while I can.