This Reminds Me

Archive for May 30th, 2006

Julia calls me “Mom” instead of “Mama” about half the time now when we’re with Rachel, Lois and Hannah.  Today the four of us accompanied her on her first trip to Fiesta Texas, the local Six Flags theme park.  As she caught sight of the new water slide from the parking lot, all I heard was, “Vow, Mom, Vow!”  As we entered the park, we met Bugs Bunny, who gave her a big hug – more “Vow!”  Every corner we turned, every set of flashing lights, more “Vow!  Vow!!”

She is fearless.  Power Surge – four times.  Roadrunner – three times.   Sccoby Do and the Haunted Mansion – four times.  Ferris Wheel – twice.  Bumper cars – once (long line.)  All the spinny rides – twice.  Kiddie rides – yawnnnnn.  And the real hit – Bugs’ White Water Adventure.  She learned to implore “Von more!?” with her index finger thrust upward.  We rode it five times.

“Von more?!”  At Houston’s old Astroworld, we would have called this the Bamboo Shoot.  And we rode it five times today, baby – five times, count ‘em!

Julia ate an entire Hebrew National hotdog with bun plus fries when we stopped for lunch.  She dislikes meat; that’s probably the most protein she’s eaten since she’s been home.

She loved almost the entire day.  When she discovered she was too short for some rides, we saw frowny faces.  Given a few more inches, she would have ridden all the big coasters – I kid you not.  She quickly learned to check her own height (42″) and we saw either (1) a stuck-out lip, or (2) a big smile, two thumbs up and a loud “Da!”

After so many splash’em rides in the hot Texas sun, my gentle flower Rachel announced we all smelled “like crotch.”

We’ve never done two sequential days of Fiesta Texas, but we’re going back tomorrow.  We had so much fun on the rides today, we never had time for the water park.  Julia will have to wear a life vest – that undoubtedly won’t be well-received.   Maybe a few trips down the Lazy River will make that irritation worthwhile.

Two weeks ago, Julia, Keith and I were wandering the streets of Moscow, buying a pirated movie and searching for cheap eats.  To that I can only say, “Vow!  Vow!!”