Tuesday, November 13, 2012

ABC Wednesday
November 14th, 2012

The letter is R

The object is Roller Coaster


What a merry ride as they slide over the top, into a gentle incline, but wait!  Soon they will not be throwing their arms in the air and displaying their bravery with such happy aplomb.  Soon they will enter into a 'mindbending',  breath stealing, heart stopping plunge...and then what of all that bravado!!!!


Here is a rather noisy video of the MindBender at West Edmonton Mall, - the largest
indoor roller coaster in the world, I believe.
 
This is not the Roller Coaster I cut my teeth on, so to speak.
In the '30's when Sunday Schools were the vogue
and Sunday School Picnics were big social affairs,
the Parish of St. Faith's (Anglican) held their annual Sunday School Picnic
at Borden Park, in Edmonton, where there was a Tunnel of Love
and The Green Rattler roller coaster!
 
 
In those days of my childhood I was fairly brave.
Each child got a ticket to ride the Green Rattler, but there were some among us
who were not as brave (or foolhardy) and it was quite easy
to collect extra tickets and have a half a dozen rides on
The Green Rattler at just one Sunday School Picnic.
 
My next encounter with a Roller Coaster was in the late 1960's, or maybe the early 1970's.
 
I took the two youngest children to the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver
and while there, remembering my delight with The Green Rattler
in days of yore, I suggested a ride on the fairly new (1958) wooden
roller coaster at Playland (or Happyland, depending upon your vintage.)
 
photo credit tiffa130 Flickr
 
 
 
photo credit Dennis Sylvester Hurd Flickr 

It is still a great thrilll to thousands of folk, but alas, I found that I had lost my zeal for roller coasters at that stage of the game, and though I love to read about the rickety enjoyment
other people get from it I will just watch and admire.

Charles and I are on our own personal roller coaster at the minute, both physically
and emotionally as his health swings from the heights to the depths.
At the moment he is on an upward swing, but I have
been there before ........I pray that we will reach a nice even run.....

For more great R's visit here, at ABC Wednesday
with thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt and all the rollicking ABCers.
 

16 comments:

photowannabe said...

I pray you will have a smooth ride from now on.
Living on the physical and emotional roller coaster is so hard.
I have great memories of the big wooden roller coaster at Santa Cruz, California. I used to love it. Now...I'll just watch. (:0)

Barb said...

I keep you and Charles in my heart and daily thoughts Hildred. So sorry to hear he is still experiencing difficulty. Take care of yourself please. Life is often enough of a roller coaster.

Roger Owen Green said...

loved them as a kid; not so much now

Reader Wil said...

I am so sorry to read that your husband is still feeling unwell and you too. My thoughts are with you. Your post is great. I don't think I will be happy in a rollercoaster!! I am afraid of heights. Thank you for taking part in this meme even if you feel unwell.
Wil, ABC Team

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! What a post for'R' ~ at 13 -15 loved the roller coaster ~ Wishing your hubby well ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

Leslie: said...

When I was 14, I got up the courage to ride the PNE's roller coaster. When I got off, I decided I'd never do that again! And I never have! Except when we went to Disneyland with the kids and went on Space Mountain...much to my disgust, it turned out to be a roller coaster in the dark! And my younger daughter and I were in the front car. You can imagine how sick I was when we got off! lol

Leslie
abcw team

Berowne said...

Very nice memoir-ish writing...

Jama said...

This is something I dare not do!!

Linnea said...

Those are great for the letter R. I stay off roller coasters now...Take care!

Dimple said...

When I saw the picture, I thought it would have relevance to your life. I pray there will be a steady upward trend, gentle and without the downward slides which you have been enduring so far.
My prayers are with you and Charles.

ChrisJ said...

Life can certainly be a roller coaster. Trust that it will remain on the upswing for Charles. Blessings.

Chubskulit Rose said...

That's one ride I will never go on again.

Running Shoes
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

When I saw the title, I expected it to be all about what the last paragraph said... my thoughts are with you both.

I enjoyed reading about the more literal interpretation of roller coaster too, but I too no longer have the need for that kind of thrills. At this stage of the game, life is enough of a roller coaster even at the best of times. .

uberrhund said...

Hildred,I would have been the kid giving away my ticket to you ! I used to watch Roller Coasters in happy terror,now they make me whoopsy to even see!
I will be holding good thoughts for better days for both you and Charles,take care, Janis

Hildred said...

Thank you all for concern and kind thoughts, - we try to keep positive and hopeful!

Willo said...

"Charles and I are on our own personal roller coaster at the minute, both physically
and emotionally as his health swings from the heights to the depths.
At the moment he is on an upward swing, but I have
been there before ........I pray that we will reach a nice even run....." Oh, Hildred this is so beautifully written and I can feel the roller coaster that both of you are on. I too, pray you reach a nice even run.