We drove to Seattle yesterday to meet my parents and retrieve the boys. We weren’t planning to leave our house until 8:00 am, but I was wide awake by 5:00, excited and eager to get going. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it also makes you forget about the incessant whining of children. I could no longer remember why I needed a break in the first place. I know it was only a few days, but I couldn’t wait to scoop them up in my arms!
Patrick had a day planned for all of us filled with the Seattle adventures he remembered experiencing as a little boy. He wanted to show the boys the Space Needle, the Science Center, ride the monorail, see the fish fly at the market. I didn’t want to damper his enthusiasm by pointing out how much things have changed in the past forty years. To Patrick, the Needle was a skyscraper. To our boys, it would be a short, funny shaped building in the Seattle city skyline. I didn’t want to remind Patrick that his trip down memory lane might be like asking the boys to sit through a silent, black & white cartoon when they are used to watching Disney/Pixar films in HD-3D. I also thought I’d keep my mouth shut about his own teeny tiny attention span.
If I had known ahead of time that it was going to cost us $15. for parking and $50. for tickets up to the observation deck, I probably would have said something. The ride in the too crowded elevator lasted exactly 40 seconds. Once we arrived at the top, the kids were thirsty. Another $9. on one apple juice and one chocolate milk, and we’d been up there for approximately 90 seconds. It took us about another two minutes to walk around the needle. That is when, as I knew he would, Patrick said, “So what should we do now?” , which was followed by another 40 second trip down the elevator. Less than five minutes, and only $74! And we even managed to get through the gift shop without breaking anything that would add to our tab!
The amusement park was exciting for the boys, but so are the dollar rides at Fred Meyer. And it was no Disneyland. Nonetheless, daddy had redeemed himself in the eyes of his offspring. I loved watching Addison throw his arms in the air and shout with glee as he rode the hills of the little rickety carnival roller coaster. And watching Hayden smile as though he would burst while riding the flying elephants was delightful, at least until he got thrown off the ride for trying to climb out, but I’ll save those details for a later story. Who knew a two year old could get banned from an amusement park?! They both loved the monorail, and were thrilled that there were about a thousand escalators at the other end. We rode up and down, and up and down, and up and down……
All in all, I think Patrick did a pretty good job creating new memories not just for the boys, but for us as well.
Okay, I literally laughed out loud at this, and then covered my mouth as I was laughing even though nobody is here in this room but me! LOVE IT!