The roller coaster

I can vividly remember my first visit to Six Flags over Texas. It was with the church youth group and my friend Bobby Young's mom, who had no apparent fear of big rides, was with us. It was not long after the Texas Giant had opened, which was at the time the fastest/tallest/craziest wooden roller coaster on the planet.


Photo by Hagerman on Flickr / Creative Commons sharing.

Since the Giant was THE ride, it was the first place she took us, and the line was already long. Keep in mind that I had never been to a theme park before, and I don't recall even a small carnival-type roller coaster before this.

As we inched through the maze of ropes and barricades the ride just loomed over us, and in my head it was absolute and certain death that everyone was happily pressing toward.

That experience ended very well, and I have loved roller coasters, and the Giant in particular ever since. (I hope the remodel left some of the coaster's personality intact.)

The point of that story is this ... When you get to the base of most roller coasters, the size and scariness of the track tends to disappear. Many times the line goes through a themed building section, up some stairs and then into the ride-loading chutes. For a while it is just nervous energy, but no fear.

With Joshua's arrival literally any day now, it is like being inside the base of a roller coaster. Even walking through the house, with all of the new baby decor and accessories, seems like a set decorated for a baby-themed ride.

But we no longer look up in fear at the enormity of the task. Instead it is like getting loaded into the coaster train, lower the safety bar as tight as possible and act very, very giddy. We just look at each other in wonder about what is ahead.

Then after what could be a painfully slow and deliberate pull to the top of the hill (at least for Renee), we get to throw our hands in the air and enjoy the ride.

It is going to be fun, and we owe a huge thanks to so many of you who are cheering with us as we go.

Doctor update - checkup today was good, with the doctor opining that she thought Joshua would be here before April 9.

Don J.