This morning as I was lying in my bed, the air conditioner already humming away i began to think about the hour drive there to Darien, and the weather forecast calling for sun and highs in the 90s I almost wanted to rethink our excursion today. That coupled with it was a day off for a lot of people besides me, the ride lines might be long, the kids would probably fight in the backseat all the way there and back, I could get sick from the heat and the sun like I have in the past. But in the end i threw off that old wet blanket that wanted to keep my home in front of the AC and said "OK everyone, get the lead out, get your suits on, and lets get on the road, we're burning daylight."
We packed some snacks and cold drinks in a cooler, I knew I was really gonnna need that ice cold gatorade today. i didn't plan on letting the heat and humidity get the best of me today. When we got the the park I was first disappointed, then i was pissed that they would not let us bring our cooler into the park. I know it is all about commericalism, and i didn't want to pay $5 for a gatorade at the park that I paid less than $1 for at Tops and packed in ice. I think I had Fantasy Island on my brain and I was imagining parking our cooler in the pavilion outside the water park. A senile moment if there ever was one. Jordan and Dylan took the cooler and the goodies back out to the car while we waited just inside the gate. OMG the heat was atrocious. I went in the ladies washroom and took off my top and put it in the sink and turned on the cold water. I put it back on and came out to wait some more and Jessie asked me if i fell in. I said i was just trying to keep cool, anyway I can.
The boys came back into the park and we started walking up the main avenue lined by all kinds of high priced shops and boutiques. My only thought was to get to the water park, my sanctuary from the sun. None of my children were ready for that first thing out of the gate. So they headed off down towards the viper, boomerang, mind eraser, predator, ride of steel, skycoaster, twister, ufo, and whatever else they could ride that would thrill them. I have no desire to get thrilled on those thrill rides, because instead of getting thrilled, I only get sick. First it starts with a bit of a quesy stomach feeling and progresses rapidly to a head ache and sometimes ends with me yaking in the bathroom. That is why i try to keep hydrated with gatorade, water just doesn't do it for me. I need cold, cold gatorade or powerade to keep me functioning.
I went into the new Splashtown Waterpark and was instantly aghast because Hooks Lagoon was closed. I like to stand in the knee deep water and get drenched underneath the big bucket that tips over onto the waders down below. Instead the lifeguards wouldn't even let me put my big toe in the water. I then headed over to the wave pool and it looked like all of Western New York was already there in the water and on the peripehery. There was not one chaise lounge to be had. I walked into the water and then swam out to the deep end and floated around for a bit until the waves started. I love laying there with my ears submerged beneath the water so that I can't hear everyone screaming around me, it feels so freeing and like i am alone.
After getting out of the water I then walked back to Hook's Lagoon and got one of the empty chaise lounges from there and pulled it into the shade near the wave pool. After lying there for a while, maybe even having a 15-45 minute cap nap, i can't be sure how long it was because I didn't have a watch or a phone with me. I realized that all the tickets were in my purse in the locker I had to rent for $11. I got up and went into the wave pool again making sure i was thoroughly soaked, had cooled my core temperature down and then I went out of the water park to find a shady spot nearby the entry way to wait for my offspring to finally get hot enough to want to get wet.
I waited there for another 15-45 minute spell, and again am pretty sure I probably fell asleep for a bit because of the drool on my cheek when when I woke up and spotted Justin's orange Syracuse T-shirt coming towards me. They had had enough fun on the dry rides and now wanted to try out the wet ones. I gave them each their tickets to the water park and we headed in there so that they could cool down and we could get a break from mean old Mr. Sun. That was when I had my moment of epiphany with them all swimming and laughing nearby, their smiles made brighter by the sun gleaming off the water. After a few rounds of waves they again took their leave to go and ride more rides and I stayed in the water park.
They came back after a while and again i had been swimming in the wave pool near the wall. I traded water, i floated on my back, i swam back and forth doing the breast stroke and the crawl and i was cool. I looked towards the shallow end and it seemed that there was an invisible line that keep all the swimmers within that shallow end. They looked like birds all jumping in place, pushing, and shoving each other occasionally jumping on each other's backs. Not too many came out to the deep end even though it was only 6' deep, which was fine with me. I could swim with no one in my way, no one inadvertently slapping me or bumping into me. It was a relaxing day with all of the populace of Western NY within my personal space.
They said they had enough fun and were now ready to head home. We each gathered up all our assorted pieces of clothing and towels, flip-flops and bags. Went to the locker and got the rest of our stored belongings and said adieu to the park and headed home. I looked at them all and they were all a little bit browner, Jessie a lot redder and they were tired and hungry, everyone ready to call it a day well spent in the sun.
Happy 4th of July to all, and to all a night free of sunburn pain.
BTW, yes they did fight all the way there and all the way back, yes it was crowded, yes the lines were long, and yes it was hot and sticky all day, not a cloud in the sky. I didn't get sick and we all had tons of fun.
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