Today I took my cousins, 7 and 11 (yes, I call them 7-11 right now, and yes, it is hilarious [only to me]), my nephew, and a few other family members to a water park. Though I’d been to that park before, it had probably been about fifteen years and in that fifteen years, I didn’t really miss it. In fact, because I have developed serious issues surrounding my mental incapacity to have gross or, worse, yucky things near me, you can imagine how easy it has been to avoid a water park. And all the kids, with things coming out of their nose. And all the bare feet, walking all over my bare feet. And the bathroom, don’t get me started on the bathroom. Sheesh, there is not enough chlorine in the world.
But there’s something about those memories I have from when I was a kid and how looking at the faces of kids you love that makes you want to just throw caution to the wind, get over the yucky, and act like every other person in the country and just go to a fricken amusement park. Which will then cause you to act like you’re at least twenty years younger than you are and proceed to throw your body into some odd pretzel-like, or splayed out position on some sort of flotation device and fly face-first into rushing water, over and over again.
The day was kind and sunny and just warm enough to avoid teeth chatter. The most overheard conversations:
Mom, can we have ice cream yet?
I want to go again! I want to go again!
Look! I’m just like Michael Phelps! (In the wave pool.) (I’m not making this up.)
Ahhhhhck! [Insert child's name] peed in the wave pool! (Picture me trying not to throw up in the wave pool, then picture me almost falling over dead because “waaahhhh, I want to wait for another wave! Pluuhllleeeeeaaaaseee?“)
Dang! That slide gives you a huge wedgie.
It’s easy to see that just by the conversation at a water park, there is nothing to have but fun. But at one point, as we were spinning around in a raft about to drop off the edge of the earth and into eighteen feet of disgusting clear, Rocky Mountain water, I looked at the faces of my cousins and saw pure excitement and wonder. And we were having so much fun! Yep, totally worth the germs.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Have you finished boiling your skin in disinfectant yet?
Actually I’ll bet you sometimes forgot there was pee in the pool.
I watched a thing on the travel channel tonight about the best water parks. I haven’t been to one since the 7th grade.
And then I got in my steroidal kiddie pool with one of my 5 year old twins who wanted to ’stick the landing’ gymnastics style and then salute the imaginary crowd that was on all sides of us with both hands up in the air. It was like we were sncyhronized swimming!
I was already laughing after reading just the title. Knew this would be a good one though you never disappoint. You should be nominated for cousin/aunt of the year — cause the way I figure it there’s always pee in the pool.
Thinking of you…
http://www.csb7.com/blogs/media/blogs/kids/doodie.jpg
“DOODIE!”
Ew! You have cooties! Pee-pee cooties!
Chlorine that and selective memory.
You are a trooper. I’m glad you had a great time with your nephew and cousins – and I hope you had a drink at the end of the day.
i haven’t been to a water park in ages. i loved them when i was little (i love water in general) but thinking about it now skeeves me out a bit. but really, is it any worse than the lake i am swimming in this weekend – the one which is crossed by not one, but 2 major highways (pee or car oil, take your pick)?
but back to water parks, my favorite thing was spending time in the wave pool and then that night in bed feeling like i was still riding the waves up and down!
Are you saying it’s wrong to pee in a wave park pool? I have it on good authority that Michael Phelps pees in the pool.
I have never been to a waterpark. I’ve been to water slides, amusement parks with water rides, tubing etc, but never a water park.
Will you be my aunt?
This was great!! I have had to make a true effort not to think about the germs and bacteria and all the other scary stuff that could be found in such locations. It is like a switch that I can’t even pretend to think about turning on because then… well, my daughter’s life would just not be much fun! It isn’t just after parks or amusement parks, but buffets, salad bars, public transit… pools are one of the worst (especially indoor)
It sounds like you had a great time!! (And I love the nick names)
I don’t even think about that…but have an aversion to water parks just in having to deal with all the kids (mostly brats) that are there!! Why can’t they have an adult only day at one of those things?? (most adults probably don’t pee in it!)