The thrill of it

Julie does not like to go on rides, so I see Lyla as my future ride partner. We'll go to Six Flags or whatever, and Julie will sit on a bench while Lyla and I go on all the upside-down roller coasters. I don't feel like Lyla will become a theme park dare devil automatically, however, so today I planted some seeds.


At the Mall of America's Nickelodeon theme park, the blue train is an extremely unpopular ride. If you are of a certain age, however, the thrill of it is almost too much to handle.



I explained to Lyla that we were on a choo-choo train. I asked her what a train says and she replied "too-too" in a very quiet voice.

"Smile for the camera, Lyla."



Yeah, not so much.

I imagined her freaking out and the teenage conductor having to throw the breaks on the whole operation and let us off. But the train finally started and Lyla became, well, contemplative.


As we got off, Lyla did the sign for "More" but remained utterly serious. It's like she was just taking it all in. It was a good ride, she had decided, but she still hadn't worked out all the details in her mind.

Instead of another train ride right then, I decided she was qualified to ride the carousel, and not on a stationary horse with hooves bolted to the floor, but on one of the thrilling ones that go up and down.


She squirmed and whined as the animals around her filled up with kids. A different teenage worker came around and checked the safety straps. Again, I was fairly convinced Lyla wouldn't make it and that I would need to unstrap her mid-ride and jump for it. Then it started.


She survived.

We did end up heading back to the blue train again. Lyla was more smiley this time and waved at people as she passed. It turned out to be the perfect ride for her.


For Julie, too.