The Second Time Around

These words conjure up thoughts, of a love affair rekindled, a 2nd marriage, the chance to try again. For me these words bring back a memory, of an experience, that taught me to relax and look around.

One evening during the summer of 1968 some friends and I with our dates went to Long Beach and had some fun at the arcade, and walked along the boardwalk. Someone in the group said lets ride the roller coaster! Long Beach was famous for that roller coaster, it was a huge wooden monster of epic proportions.

I did not voice my concern for our safety since my date wanted to go on the ride. There wasn't many people there, in fact we were the only ones on the ride. As the lap bar was put down, I put my left hand on the bar in front of me and my right arm around my date. The operator released the brake and we began gliding down the rail towards the tow chain. As it engaged, we began our assent to the top. I thought this isn't bad.

As we topped the peak and began our downward decent, shear terror grabbed me and a death grip took over. It was as if rigor-mortis had set in. I could not tell if my date was screaming from the thrill of the ride or the PRESSURE I was exerting on her. I didn't care! I figured if we were going off the track or if I was thrown out, I was going with company.
The only thing I noticed was my hand. Making sure that I did not let go. As we plummeted from one hill to the other around curves it seemed as if we were flying.

Just as quick as we started we were pulling into the platform. I started to relax a little, when someone behind me hollered at the attendant to let us go around again. I watched with horror as he released the brake and we once again began to coast toward the tow chain. As it engaged and we started the assent, I began to relies that I had been here before and I did not die. I was a survivor. This time around we would be going over familiar ground. If I would calm down and watch what was going on around me I might enjoy myself. The pressure on my left hand and my right arm relaxed. We rode around the ride and we both enjoyed all the fun that it presented.
If I had gotten off after the first ride I would have walked around like this for several hours while the blood came back to my arms. The fear and terror that I felt would have been a controlling factor, for the rest of my life. I would not have experience the rush from a fast moving ride.

The second time around, is your chance to look at what you're doing in a different light. Been there, done that!, says it best. It does not matter whether it's a ride, love affair or your job. When the initial anxiety is gone, you can look with both eyes and see what really matters.