Ryan Trares
Our little daredevil just keeps getting braver and braver.
This month will represent his greatest challenge yet, though.
Anthony has been slowly branching out and trying new things recently. He’s no longer shy when people ask him a question or say hello to him. As I’ve documented in this column, no sledding hill is too big to glide down, and no playground too tall to clamor all over. The deep end of the pool is not too scary (as long as he has his floats on, and I’m there to help if he needs it.)
A lot of it has to do with being in school, I think. Being around other kids his age, away from the maybe-too-overprotective parents, means he can test boundaries and try new things. That can be good and bad, but so far, I see it as a positive.
This summer, Anthony discovered something new in his search for thrills — rollercoasters. During our summer vacation to Walt Disney World, we convinced him to take a ride on the Barnstormer, a Goofy-centric coaster aimed at kids. Clicking up that first hill, he was apprehensive, clutching the lap bar tightly. But after the twisty-turvy ride, a smile lit up his whole face.
We spent the rest of the vacation searching out different rollercoasters to ride. Disney World offered the perfect balance between fast, thrilling rides that weren’t too intense or steep. Anthony loved the mining-themed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad; Soarin’ Around the World, an immersive ride that made it seem like you were flying around the world, and, his favorite, Slinky Dog Dash — a legitimate coaster that zoomed up, down and around the track.
Ever since we returned from the trip, Anthony has been itching for the next rollercoaster to ride. He’ll have his chance later this month, as we travel to Cedar Point, on the banks of Lake Erie.
The trip has become an annual tradition, as my dad lives just minutes away from the park. For the past few years, we’ve kind of been stuck in limbo; Anthony was too scared to do many of the attractions, sticking with just the smaller kiddie rides until he got bored.
But this time around, he can’t wait. I suspect the day will be spent running from ride to ride, barely pausing to refuel on french fries and vinegar or fried cheese on a stick.
Thankfully, his grandfather and I are also coaster fans. If he wants to be flung around on the Scrambler or the Matterhorn, take on the Woodstock Express or brave Ocean Motion, we’ll be happy to accompany him.
He’s probably too young — and definitely too short — to ride on the most intense rides at Cedar Point. It’ll likely be years before he works up the courage to ride the Magnum, with its 205-foot drop, or the Raptor with its six different upside-down inversions.
But I know that Anthony will be eyeing them as we walk by. And plotting for the day when he can take those on.
Ryan Trares is a senior reporter and columnist for the Daily Journal in Franklin. Send comments to [email protected].
