EEE-NUFF ABOUT COVID-19 AND ALL OF THE CRAP GOING ON EVERYWHERE!!1! There are bigger fish to fry, strange as that sounds. I've hinted about this in a few previous posts, but as time goes on, I feel like it's getting closer to becoming real. It's definitely not what I want, but some things are simply out of my hands. "What in the world are you talking about, oh maker of little sense?"
Throughout the Pandumbic of 2020, I have not been able to pursue a favorite activity that has given me untold joy, new friends, new experiences, a few splinters (long story), and brought me a lifetime of memories. That activity? Jumping into a vehicle locked to a track attached to a rickety wooden structure or a rusty steel one with no means of propulsion other than gravity and momentum. Then getting locked in and sent on my merry way. There's no escape. And no one's driving, either. How—and why—would anyone do such a thing? And for FUN too? Just more mysterious stuff about me.
The ongoing COVID-19 situation has kept amusement parks across the U.S. closed since mid-March when non-essential businesses were ordered to close to slow the spread of the disease. Although amusement parks do provide what many feel is the essential service of providing entertainment, they didn't rank as high as gas stations, grocery stores and so forth, and, thus, were closed.
However, my issue and the reason for this post goes beyond the closed parks. Had the parks stayed open, I still would have likely not gone to any. In January, I did make one trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain to attend the media event for their new-for-2019-but-delayed-till-2020 attraction, West Coast Racers. (If you missed my report, read it here.) ACE members are always grateful to be invited to media events. They feed us, we ride as much as we want, we get our face on TV, and they often let us stay in the park all day. All we need to do is provide them with the use of our bodies for a few hours to fill coaster trains with riders for the media in return. In the past, I've had no issues riding these contraptions ten to 20 times over the course of those few hours. A couple of rides, rest, a few more, get out and eat. A few more, etc. But for some reason, this time they sent us on at least 15 rides straight, beginning at 3:55 in the morning. I was actually getting a bit queasy so I asked the lady in charge if I could switch out with another rider. "No! Just one more ride, OK?" It may never happen again, but I was truly not happy about having to take another ride. When in the history of Eric has anyone ever known him to react like that to taking a coaster ride without having to wait? Must be some sort of mental unravelation going on.
The painful truth is that my body is heading to the crapper and taking the fast lane to get there. Thankfully, I'm not in any actual pain, but it's truly painful to have to pass on a favorite activity because it has become too much to handle, physically speaking. I've had lab work done; everything's normal aside from the expected anomalies from diabetes. Right now, we can't have in-person visits with our doctors because of guess what? (Hint: there's a "19" in the name...) Of course, as usual, my team of armchair physicians has all of the answers. And, as usual, my ears provide their badvice with the flow-through ventilation it deserves.
This situation has slowed me down. What I can and should do is to try and build up my stamina. It just so happens that one lap around my block is a half-mile. If I can walk one lap several times a day, I can get back to the point where I should be.
The thought of having to pass up a coaster ride is enough to drive me toward getting up, getting out, and doing the work. It's going to be tough, but it will be worth making the effort. I just might come out of this with a rejuvenated spirit and quite possibly a new outlook on life in general. Not to mention the rides on those awesome thrill machines.
The ongoing COVID-19 situation has kept amusement parks across the U.S. closed since mid-March when non-essential businesses were ordered to close to slow the spread of the disease. Although amusement parks do provide what many feel is the essential service of providing entertainment, they didn't rank as high as gas stations, grocery stores and so forth, and, thus, were closed.
However, my issue and the reason for this post goes beyond the closed parks. Had the parks stayed open, I still would have likely not gone to any. In January, I did make one trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain to attend the media event for their new-for-2019-but-delayed-till-2020 attraction, West Coast Racers. (If you missed my report, read it here.) ACE members are always grateful to be invited to media events. They feed us, we ride as much as we want, we get our face on TV, and they often let us stay in the park all day. All we need to do is provide them with the use of our bodies for a few hours to fill coaster trains with riders for the media in return. In the past, I've had no issues riding these contraptions ten to 20 times over the course of those few hours. A couple of rides, rest, a few more, get out and eat. A few more, etc. But for some reason, this time they sent us on at least 15 rides straight, beginning at 3:55 in the morning. I was actually getting a bit queasy so I asked the lady in charge if I could switch out with another rider. "No! Just one more ride, OK?" It may never happen again, but I was truly not happy about having to take another ride. When in the history of Eric has anyone ever known him to react like that to taking a coaster ride without having to wait? Must be some sort of mental unravelation going on.
The painful truth is that my body is heading to the crapper and taking the fast lane to get there. Thankfully, I'm not in any actual pain, but it's truly painful to have to pass on a favorite activity because it has become too much to handle, physically speaking. I've had lab work done; everything's normal aside from the expected anomalies from diabetes. Right now, we can't have in-person visits with our doctors because of guess what? (Hint: there's a "19" in the name...) Of course, as usual, my team of armchair physicians has all of the answers. And, as usual, my ears provide their badvice with the flow-through ventilation it deserves.
This situation has slowed me down. What I can and should do is to try and build up my stamina. It just so happens that one lap around my block is a half-mile. If I can walk one lap several times a day, I can get back to the point where I should be.
The thought of having to pass up a coaster ride is enough to drive me toward getting up, getting out, and doing the work. It's going to be tough, but it will be worth making the effort. I just might come out of this with a rejuvenated spirit and quite possibly a new outlook on life in general. Not to mention the rides on those awesome thrill machines.
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