Re: 9/1 The Perfect Normal Day
I'm so depressed.
I had thought about staying for the morning (I had been there for the Reunion all weekend), but I didn't think my feet would stand for it. I acquired a really nasty blister on my little toe -- rubbed raw & bleeding, not just a little white bubble. So I headed home.
Dang! I could have ridden so many coasters before I left! But, as my husband points out, that might have resulted in my driving home fighting a major migraine.
Mean Streak Sat. afternoon put me out of action for a good part of the weekend. Man, that stinker really rattles your @$$, doesn't it? But it's a terrific wood coaster -- certainly in the same league as The Beast.
I missed most of the dance, and the Maverick ERT, because my head was exploding, woke Sunday morning with a full-bore migraine, took meds, slept until late afternoon, and hit the park again. played ani...er, ran around the park until about 8:00, crashed again, and woke in time for the MF ERT. Man, am I glad I didn't miss *that* one! What a coaster! Front car 1st time, any ol' car after that -- just run right up! I liked that a lot.
But, really, since I hadn't been to CP in 30 (yes, 30!) years, I wasn't going primarily for the rides. I spent a lot of time just hanging out by the blacksmith shop, where I used to work. The '08 season's smith, Jonathan, is just a scream and a half. Sunday was his last day, so he was very punchy. I remember that giddy feeling at the end of a season!
He also made me one of his specialty items -- a wrought-iron rose. Now, how poetic is that? I have some fun pictures of him making it, and proving that at one time, that rose really was red. Glowing, in fact.
I talked to a lot of current employees, and on the whole, I'd say more things are the same about the Point than are different after 30 years.
I had a blast, though part of me is galled at having paid so much for the AYCE chicken "barbeque", only to be offered underdone baked chicken with a little cup of sauce on the side, some of the toughest, chewiest corn I've ever gnawed off a cob, and pricey draft beer. Food Services management may huff that they were trying to do something nice for us, but I'd like to remind them -- we paid for it. $13.45, to be exact. And underdone chicken is a major health hazard. Y'all are lucky (I know you're checking this, Management!) that nobody called the health department. I'm serious.
Don't get me wrong -- the reunion was a fabulous idea, and I don't think anyone had a bad time. But hey -- don't we at least deserve palatable food, fully cooked?
Breakers staff was terrific. Treated us like treasured, long-missed relatives. Jeremy, Nick, and Zach were especially helpful.
Current employees were welcoming and very interested in our experiences, how they were different, and how similar they are. They also were impressed with the reunion idea, and are excited at the prospect of their own future reunions.
Let's do it again, and this time, let's cook the chicken all the way.
Shirt Shack 1975
Blacksmith Shop 1976
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST