Tomorrow Ela and Aleks will go to Cedar Point with their cousins and parents who are visiting from California. I feel their excitement. When we were kids, we went to Cedar Point for the Pioneer Rubber Co picnic. My dad worked there,and he could get numerous tickets for a small price. My cousins and aunt and uncle from Lebanon came to go with us. One time, Aunt Lucy and Uncle Jack and grandmother Maudie came from Kentucky to accompany us. I think the anticipation of all the family coming to visit was better than the actual trip to the amusement park. The parents were only in their 30s then. And grandmother was not even 60 years. I wonder what rides she took. She was probably thrilled to see the gunfights and the skeletons on the Riverboat Cruise. And I can see her smiling as she rode the Sky Ride and viewed the beautiful flowers. It is hard for me to imagine my parents riding a roller coaster. They probably went on the Pirate Ride and the train. I think they spent most of their time trying to keep track of their 7 children We took coolers and sandwiches for lunch. At the appointed time we met at the picnic area for food. There was no money for Berardi fries and cokes. At mealtime, we talked about the rides we had been on and who was the most scared on the double Ferris wheel. And the large stuffed animals at the Midway games. We always went in the arcade and wished for a nickel to buy a fortune from the fake rotating gypsy lady. Sometimes we were allowed enough change to have our weight or age guessed for a prize. My mom and grandmother giggled as their ages were guessed way under the actual number. Grandmother chose a chalkware pheasant ,and Mother chose a small cup and saucer on its own stand. I still have a roaring lion on a platform won for an age misguess. I was 10 and they guessed 14.
We always went home sunburned and tired. At home. we ate bologna sandwiches while the adults recounted the day and other old times. The next morning the tearful goodbyes were for the end of a different time and going back to farm chores. For a time, we were in some other world apart from country town of Willard, Ohio.
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We always went home sunburned and tired. At home. we ate bologna sandwiches while the adults recounted the day and other old times. The next morning the tearful goodbyes were for the end of a different time and going back to farm chores. For a time, we were in some other world apart from country town of Willard, Ohio.
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