Cedar Point

A couple of days ago for some reason I thought of my mom's old Cedar Point mug.  It was white, insulated, and 80's-tastic neon.  I used to joke with her that she had to have it any time she crossed the county line.  But seriously, from about 1986-2000 (inclusive) it was never far from her.  I googled it to see if I could find a photo.  One thing led to another, as googling often does, and I found out they tore out my favorite roller coaster.  I was devastated.  I started crying and felt heartbroken.

Cedar Point was about 4-5 hours away by car on the shores of Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio.  There was a Friendly's on the way, and Bosco's Big Biscuit too.  We'd go there with our neighbors and camp, not every summer, but a few times.  My mind has them all rolled into one trip.   We'd both bring our pop-up campers and set up shop.  I never did stay at Hotel Breakers.  The first day there was torture.  It was all about the dads getting the campers just so and barking orders and then the wait.  "But mom, if you go after 5:00 it's half price!"  Nope.  We just got to help set up clothes lines and unpack while the sounds of fun wafted through the air.  One of the last times I went was when I was 17 or 18.  I could barely sleep all night.  I remember walking the grounds of the camper village just pumped up for what fun I'd have once those gates opened. 

Back when we frequented the place The Gemini was the thing.  It was the biggest, scariest roller coaster that didn't go upside down.  I remember me (and probably others I was with) getting in line for it and deciding that I just wasn't in the mood for it after all.  I was much more into the Mine Ride, Iron Dragon, and Wildcat.  Depending on my tummy and mood, I'd also definitely be up for the Scrambler, Tilt-A-Whirl, Matterhorn, Calypso, practically falling out of the Blue Streak ("There's seat belts?!?!?") and the like.  Also, as a kid I loved driving the cars.

I've only been there once since that time I wandered the campground some 21 years ago.  Has it really been that long?  It was very much a part of my youth.  Give me CP over Disney any day.  I'll take the Happy Friar, fruit-shaped sippy cups, funnel cake, Dodgem, Cedar Downs carousel, and Sky Ride.

I still miss that place a lot and keep telling myself I'm taking Simon there before too long.  One thing that makes me really sad, however, is the way they keep adding bigger and bigger rollercoasters.  I know I'm very much in the minority, but I'm not a fan of them.  I'm also not a fan of the way they take over everything else.  Like the Wildcat.  Sure, it probably needed a lot of work, but if they wanted to they could restore it.  For such a little coaster it sure was a lot of fun.  Sure, it's not the biggest, tallest, fastest ride, but does everything have to be?  It was one I could have taken Simon on as soon as he was tall enough.  He would have loved it. 

They also have gotten rid of several of the spinny thrill rides I would sometimes frequent.  One that was rumored to be gone was my beloved Troika.  From what I can tell, however, it's still there.  Disaster Transport, the ride in the building behind it, wasn't so lucky.  They also took out the Demon Drop and space needle skybox thing.  Those were two mainstays of my youth.  I never went on the Demon Drop, but it was a huge deal back then and very much ingrained in my days spent there.

I guess I'm also just plain sad and homesick in general.  I miss the places I know so well.  I miss the people I know so well.  No matter how long I live here in the Greater Houston Area, it will never be home.  It will never have the memories of my youth with Denise and her family.  It will never be where I spent my "wild" college nights running around past my bedtime playing on horsey swings.  Too much nostalgia isn't good for a person, I know.  But I also know that I find such comfort on the memories and places that are bathed in the warm glow of remembering.  I've been down here 8.5 years and I still feel very alone at times even with my dear husband and son.  My parents have moved on to their new home.  My brother is across the country about to get married (and I won't be there).  My dear cousin has a baby that'll be in school before I get to meet her.  I miss the days before bills, before worrying about health insurance for my two-year-old cancer survivor son, before knowing the panic of the check engine light, before responsibility.  Piece by piece the things that could transport me back there are disappearing.  I'm sorry if that makes me sad.  Oh, wait.  No I'm not.  This is me.  I'm just glad the grown-up me lives in a world with Google Images and YouTube.