School Picnic

Every year in the spring our elementary school had a school picnic. Everyone in the school went with family to the Highlands, an old amusement park in St. Louis. Our mother didn't know how to drive, and my dad taught at a different school, so my Aunt would drive us there. She had a big car, so my other Aunt, Mom and the 3 kids could all fit. We would take a picnic lunch and the aunts and Mom would set themselves up on a blanket while we would run around with our friends and go on rides.
The merry-go-round was fun, though a bit slow moving. I loved the tilt-a-whirl, which would upset some stomachs, but not mine. I also loved the big ferris wheel. You got a great view as it went up high. Sometimes it would stop when your little car was at the top, which was scary and fun at the same time. There was also a bobsled ride, which tilted from side to side as it went along its track.
The ride I always thought must be the best was the roller coaster. But it had a minimum height limit, and all during elementary school, I was too short to be allowed to ride it. Finally, in 7th grade I was tall enough. I had to go to school, since I wasn't in elementary school any longer. But after school a friend and I got to join my brother and Mother and Aunts at the picnic. Finally I got to go on the roller coaster. It was an old one, without any seatbelts. When I got up on the top and it started to go VERY fast down the track, I was more scared than I'd ever been. I held onto the handbar very tight, but I was sure I would fall out even though there were other people waving their hands around and still not falling.
At last the ride was over. That was the first and only time I ever went on a roller coaster.

Photo courtesy of wgdavis on Flickr. It is the original Highlands carousel, now in Faust Park near St. Louis.