Even if the spooky season’s your absolute favorite (what’s not to love?), you still might feel exhausted at the thought of attending a Halloween party. After years of putting effort into a punny costume, dressing up and hitting the town, maybe you’ve just outgrown it, and you’d rather stay home with your partner and go to bed by 10 p.m. instead.
Not so fast! There are so many awesome ideas for Halloween-themed date nights that are perfect if you’re not planning on going out but still want to ring in the holiday somehow. Some of them are scary, some of them are cozy, but all of them are the absolute best this time of year. Below, find the fun activity you should do with your boo before November starts.
1. Watch scary movies.
Cuddle up on the couch and have yourself a marathon complete with every Scream sequel, lots of Halloween candy, and some warm, cozy cocktails.
2. Carve pumpkins.
It’s a messy, on-theme activity that you can get creative with. Make a jack-o’-lantern you’ll both love, like your college logo if you and your partner have the same alma mater.
3. Go to an amusement park or carnival.
Lots of amusement parks will be on theme for Halloween. Ride some roller coasters, run through some impromptu corn mazes, and get scared by rogue employees that are a little too excited to dress up for the month of October.
4. Attend a midnight screening.
And don’t think you can get away with seeing a regular film at midnight on Halloween—think horror or at least a psychological thriller. Come on now.
5. Even better if it’s at a drive-in.
Yes, drive-in movies still exist, and we guarantee you and your partner will spend the entire night squeezing each other. That’s how spooky it’ll be.
6. Pay a visit to a haunted house.
Or a corn maze, ghost tour, or hayride. If it’s spooky, it’ll get the job done. The eerie activities are endless.
7. Bake Halloween-inspired treats.
Ghosts, bats, pumpkins, skulls, and so on. Aren’t sugar cookies the best?
8. Tell scary stories (bonus points for setting up a bonfire first).
Cue the Are You Afraid Of The Dark? flashbacks. A flashlight to hold beneath your face is absolutely mandatory.
9. Visit a graveyard.
Any time of year will be creepy, but October’s perfect if you’re really trying to get spooked. Thrill-seekers will love this one.
10. Dress up and be creepy on your porch while handing out candy.
If little kids scream in horror at your costumes, you know you’ve succeeded.
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
For some reason, the phone contact details of your crush falls into your hands. Now what?
Do you want to establish a romantic connection? Are you so love-struck that you want to straight off close the gap between you and your crush through text messaging? Well then, this list might just have what you need!
This list is a collection of pick-up lines you can use on your text messages to flirt with your object of attraction. Each line from this list has the power to show whoever you’re interested in that you’re romantically and passionately motivated to make a connection.
Keep in mind that the pick-up lines here are merely ideas, so use them wisely. If the person you’re trying to allure dismisses your advances, respect their decision. Don’t be a jackass. Flirt nicely and have fun.
Cute Messages to Text Your Crush
If you were a vegetable, you’d be a cute-cumber.
My dog wants you to know that he/she misses you. Come over.
I bet you smiled when you saw my name pop up on your phone just now.
I envy your footwear. I want to be like them so I can be with you every step of the way.
Take a guess. Which emoji did I place next to your name in my phone?
Roses are red. Violets are blue. Sugar is sweet…and so are you.
Whenever I see you, I feel like a dog always giddy to greet you at the door.
I’m sending you hugs and kisses.
My phone is in my hands, but I would rather be holding you.
I haven’t seen you in forever. Have you been visiting your fellow angels in heaven?
When you go to sleep at night, do you dream of new ways to make me like you?
Send me your picture so I can show Santa what I want for Christmas.
I just accidentally walked into pole because I was thoughtlessly staring and smiling at your text messages.
I never believed in love at first sight until I saw your profile picture.
My parents told me not to talk to strangers. So, how about we be friends?
You’ve been running through my mind all day.
You’re always in my 3A.M. thoughts.
I hope your day is as nice as my butt.
I do not think much. I do not think often. But when I do think, I think of you.
If I was a stoplight, I would turn red every time you passed by, just so I could stare at you a little longer.
Kiss me and you will see the stars. Love me and I will give them to you.
Can you give me your parents’ phone numbers so I can text them and thank them for being able to raise such a wonderful human.
It’s always fun to flirt with you over text messages. However, it makes it hard for me to lean in and kiss you.
Let’s commit the perfect crime. You steal my heart, and I steal yours.
Source
Flirty Texts That Never Fail to Impress
We don’t really have anything to talk about, but I still want to talk to you. So…”Hi!”
Hey, sexy.
Just so you know, I’m not flirting with you. I’m just being extra nice to you who is extra attractive.
Hey, stop thinking about me. See, you’re doing it right now.
Hello, this is me making the first move. Your turn.
I admit that you’re on my mind more than just sometimes.
Could you stop being attractive? You’re driving me crazy!
Just so you know, we’re going on a date tonight.
I just realized that you never text first. Do you hate me or are you just playing hard to get?
Every moment I spend with you is like being in paradise.
I’m wondering how long it’s going to be before you realize that I like you, and admit that you like me back.
I don’t know what love potion you made me drink, but every time I think of you, I can’t stop smiling.
My lips on your lips would be magical.
Good night beautiful/handsome. Sleep well.
Hey, stranger. Stop being a stranger.
Netflix and chill?
What’s new in the wonderful world of you?
I was actually going to wait for a day or two before texting you, but I can’t wait that long.
Stop sending me mixed signals and start sending me sexy memes.
I just saw your new profile picture. Looking hotter than ever, I see.
I’m waiting for you at home.
I still exist, in case you have forgotten.
You already know how much I really like you. So, what are you going to do about it?
Source
Dirty Pick-Up Lines for the Dauntless
I just want you to know that I don’t believe in pick-up lines. So, let’s just skip all that and proceed to hooking up.
I’m currently watching a sexy video of girl/guy who looks just like you.
I’m a little drunk, a little horny, and all alone.
I hope you don’t mind that I’m texting you while naked. Or that I’m imagining you naked.
I had a dream about you last night. I’d tell you all about it, but it was too inappropriate.
I have a magic wand that is aching to show you a trick.
Talk dirty to me.
You should come over and do some “we shouldn’t be doing this” kind of thing with me.
Do you want to mess up the bed with me tonight?
I like your style. I like your class. But most of all, I like your arse.
I’m kinda having NSFW thoughts about you right now.
I can’t believe how naughty your text messages are. Do you have any more surprises for me?
I know you’re busy, but can you add one more thing on your to-do list? Me.
Let’s go do the one thing you’ve always wanted to do.
Everything would be better we stop with the texting and actually start seeing each other more often. Preferably naked.
I can’t believe I’m texting you while I’m peeing.
I just got out of the shower. Do want to come over and help me get dirty again?
Is it weird that I’m completely naked while texting you right now?
You never fail at making me smile and horny. But, oh well, that’s not the point.
Source
Smooth Talk Your Way Into Anyone’s Heart With These Messages
Tell me the truth. How long have you been waiting for a text message from me?
Do you miss me yet?
In case you’re wondering, I’m still single.
You’re so beautiful that I actually forgot that I was supposed to send you a pick-up line.
Okay, let’s skip the small talk and go straight to flirting.
To know me is to love me. Are you ready to get to know me?
You see, I really suck at starting conversations. Do you want to try?
Here’s hoping that you find my willingness to text first attractive.
Did you just fall in love with me after receiving this text message?
I have a big problem. I can’t stop thinking about you.
Are you free for the rest of your life?
You wanna know what the best thing in my life is? It’s the first word of the previous sentence.
If you told me that I have a nice body, I might hold it against you.
If you told you that you have a nice body, would you hold it against me?
Will you be my princess/prince?
If you don’t reply in 3 seconds, you’re mine.
Not many people can take my breath away. But you don’t even have to exert some effort.
Ugh! Today, I have to go to some bring event. Will you come with me to make it fun?
Hey, you! Get out of my head! And fall to my arms instead.
I’m making the first move by texting you. I hope you make the next move by kissing me.
I wanted to ask if I messaged you already before, but I know I would remember someone as articulate as you.
I have Netflix on, but no one to snuggle with. Do you think you can help me out?
If you want to make a move on me, now is the perfect time. Go for it!
Source
Clever Pick-Up Lines to Text Your Crush
I just made a bet with my brother/sister. He/She said that you’re taken already. I told him/her that you’re mine for the taking. So, who won the bet?
I may not be a photographer, but I can picture both you and me together.
I could drink a case of you and I’d still be on my feet.
How did you survive so long without texting me? I’m a delightful necessity.
First, I was playing hard to get. Now, you’re playing hard to forget.
I just finished a book I know you would love. You should come over to pick it up.
You just won the jackpot! You placed first in my heart. Text me back for the details.
Answer this quick! What are the three that I can text you to make you mine?
I may run out of text messages for you. I may run out of jokes. I may also run out of battery. But, my heart won’t ever run out of space for you.
Do you believe in love at first text, or should I text you again?
You are out of my sight, but in my mind.
I just got a new phone, and right now, I’m not sure how it works. Can I call you to test it?
Your One-Time PIN is 143. For your protection, do not share this code with anyone. Enter this code to confirm your love for me.
I like you, so do you like me? Yes or yes?
Since you texted me first, I assume that you like me. I like you too!
If you want to marry me right now, text YES. If you want to marry me next time, text NO.
Now that we’re officially texting one another, I’ve become obsessed with checking my phone. That said, don’t keep me waiting.
I wanted to ask you out, but I figured that I’d start by sending you a text message.
Hi, my name is Trouble, and I’m looking for my soul mate. Mind if I ask if you have room for a little trouble in your life?
I can’t figure out if I should start this conversation with a compliment, a pick-up line, or a simple “hello”. You choose.
Do you have any plans for the night? Because I don’t.
You know what would be even better than a text back? An invitation to dinner!
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
The reason I’ve struggled with writing this story is that it can’t really be written. It has to be felt. To be lived. It was just a summer job on the boardwalk in wildwood. But it was something else. We did the same job over and over every night. It was us on the ride, and the people lined up and boarded the ride and we sent them up. That’s it. Over and over again. A sea of faces. Thousands of happy smiling faces night after night. Non-stop. We keep loading them in and they keep coming back for more. They’re on vacation. We’re there to serve them entertainment. Welcome to the show, I’m Chaz and I’ll be your host. It’s a circus. A carnival. A place where the freaks run the rides and you enjoy the show.
But it’s more than that. We sell happiness. Joy. Excitement. Thrills. Anticipation. The list goes on and on. What job have you ever had in your life where you can deliver that to your clients every single day? That’s the only product we make and our customers can’t live without it.
I’ve never ever had a job like that again. I can name every job I’ve ever had and none of them will be any of the things I just mentioned. That’s why many of the people who work there never leave.
There are worse vocations in this world.
It’s as if we worked in a place that existed in another world. A sea of joy and happy faces. Of children giggling and laughing and having the time of their lives. we’re the hosts bringing them fond memories. The type of memories they carry with them forever. The old memories. The ancient senses developed in our species millions of years ago.
The excitement in the air crackles around you with your every move along that boardwalk. The music that fills the air whether it’s something on the radio or the crashing symphony of the calliope from the merry-go-round. That merry-go-round that you only get to ride once in this world.
One time around. Maybe you catch the brass ring, maybe you don’t. Maybe you rode all the way home on that mighty steed or maybe you didn’t. Maybe you fell off the horse a few times but you had a good time doing it. You get one ride in this life and we all have to make it. Make yours count. Maybe not for yourself but for someone else in this life.
Can you smell it? Is that Curly fries, or is it the sweet fragrance of a fresh funnel cake? When you bite that soft pretzel and the mustard drips on your polo shirt, and your wife pulls out a tissue to clean you up. She and the kids are so happy you’ve got a job where they can take a vacation for a week at the seashore. To play with the kids on the beach and swim in the sea, and see things you never imagined come to life. The stroll on that boardwalk, where you stuff your head with delicious pizza from Sam’s or Mack’s.
I’m here to help. I will facilitate your joy, sir. We all will. And we’ll deliver you a show you won’t soon forget every night. That game you played. That teddy bear you won. We’re here to deliver.
But all the while we’re loving our very existence. Really living. The sun shines above our young heads. Our skin browns in the sun and our hair turns a lovely flaxen color. We feel it too. You’re here for a week or two. But we’re here every day. We get to live this life for two months every summer.
And when the shadows grow long in the autumn twilight, you’ll remember us. Because we’ll always be with you in your memories. A place that can’t be seen or touched, but you can feel it. You can smell and taste the memory. That first bite from your favorite burger spot. That first kiss of that person you just met on the beach today or this very boardwalk. The possibilities that can happen. It’s all yours. But only for a week. I get to do this every day.
It’s my life.
For now.
But one day I will join you in your world. But, we’ll all be able to look inward and feel that bit of magic in our hearts that came to life when we were young. That place that you loved that you can never revisit.
Only in your dreams and memories.
Other people have written about Wildwood. I’ve read what they’ve written and it’s been simple documentation of what the place was like. But not how it felt. That’s what I’ve tried to describe here.
You don’t know it if you didn’t really live it. My sisters and I really lived it.
Every summer in Wildwood was different. The weather was the same and some of the things stayed the same but that was the beautiful constant.
It was always Summer there. Eternal. I only felt its dark side when I spent my first winter there. That was when the spell was broken. But only for a while. Every summer we spent there we changed. Because we were growing up. It’s not like now when another year goes by and you’re feeling the same as last year. We were growing. We were growing up. From little children to teenagers to adults. You spent your winters in Philly and went to school in the cold and waited for the bus. But in the summer you returned to a magical paradise with days filled with sunshine and joy. Only joy. You can never get that back. Those formative years are fleeting, and once they’re gone… they’re gone forever.
I finished writing this series after a long time. I covered everything but I knew something was missing. I scheduled it and put the finishing touches on my work because it was done. I would only return to it in a month to do final edits.
But one night I was sitting in my room watching my show, and it kept gnawing at me. Something was missing from the long series. That’s when I stopped watching TV and opened a new doc and started pounding out these words. This may not even be enough. But maybe it’ll be enough for now.
The carnival. The amusement park. The sweet sea air as it blows in warm from the beach onto the crowd as they laugh and sing through the night.
The more I wrote the more I realized it’s almost something that can’t be written about. It can’t be documented. It’s a feeling. You can write what you saw and what you did, but it’s not the same.
You have to remember the feeling.
A dear friend once told me, “It’s not what you said or what you did. It’s how you made them feel.”
Thanks to everyone that follows my blog and also to everybody who dug it from Facebook and Instagram. I reconnected with some old friends from these posts, so it was totally worth it.
A book about my youth in Wildwood entitled, Down the Shore will publish in 2023.
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
You’ve had date night on your Google Calendar for over three weeks, and you still haven’t figured out what you and your boo are going to do. You can’t watch another bad movie. You simply can’t eat takeout anymore. You’re ready to put on your sexy pants and paint the town with your flame. Of course, you need to find out what the heck is on the agenda first. If hindsight is 20/20, perhaps the year 2020 will be full of good ideas, wisdom, and learning from the past. In fact, these date ideas to try in 2020 will bring the excitement and the fun back to date night.
From dressing up like it’s 2002 and hitting up your childhood hotspots (Rainforest Cafe, ILY) to drinking some wine and getting crafty, there are tons of creative date ideas out there. Whether you turn off your phones and explore the city with disposable cameras or start a monthly movie club together to share your favorite flicks, getting out of your date comfort zone this 2020 is sure to be a 10/10 experience.
And if you’re looking to add some zest to your relationship, here are 10 date ideas for 2020 that are out of this world.
Shutterstock
1. Print Out Your Fave Pics & Make A Scrapbook
Go to a CVS or a RiteAid with a photo center, then print out your favorite pictures of you and your boo. Fashion them into a scrapbook, along with concert tickets, little notes, and any other small mementos you may find. It’s like an IRL Instagram feed, but of your relationship.
2. Have A DIY Date
Find a tutorial you like on YouTube (I live for TheSorryGirls and Lone Fox) and grab all the supplies you need at a dollar store or thrift shop. Load up on snacks, grab some wine or tea, and get to crafting!
3. Plan A 2002 Night & Watch A Reboot
Grab your butterfly clips and Juicy tracksuit, and get ready for a 2002-themed date night with boo. Maybe you both dress up like it’s the early 2000s and snuggle up to watch a reboot of an old classic or you hit the town by going to some OG fave spots, like the Rainforest Cafe or Johnny Rockets. Whatever you choose, the best way to celebrate 2020 with your date is to bring it back to 2002.
4. Start A Monthly Club
Planning a running date night to sit down and swap media recommendations can be a great way to start your 2020. Whether you switch off who chooses the movie or book or snuggle up to listen to some tunes together, making time to share your favorite things in 2020 is a great way to connect with your date.
5. Have A Disposable Camera Day
Sure, you have Huji Cam. Or maybe you had it, then deleted it for VSCO. Whatever the case, if you plan to have a romantic, retro 2020 date, hit up a drugstore for a literal disposable camera (yes, they still sell them) and turn your phone off for an entire day. Run around the city with your boo and take some sweet photos together on the camera, to commemorate the adventure.
6. Plan A Silly Scavenger Hunt
From hitting all the places you went together in 2019 to revisiting different memories from throughout your relationship, a scavenger hunt date can be a great way to revisit some old faves as you get into 2020. Run around the city, find clues, and get to the next spot. Then meet up somewhere that neither of you has been before!
7. Try A $5 Challenge
Meet up with your boo in a new part of a town. Then hand each other a crisp $5 bill. Select a set amount of time, then yell, “Ready, set, go!” When you reunite again, see who found the other a better present or the most things for under $5. Balling on a budget, but make it romantic.
8. Make Vision Boards Together
Sitting together and collaging about the future can be a natural way to kick off the “Where do you see this going?” convo. Maybe you talk about a city you’ve always wanted to visit, which leads to a conversation about traveling together. Or perhaps you can describe your dream apartment, then naturally bring up one day moving in together. Blast some tunes, pour some drinks, and start cutting up some old magazines.
9. Go To A Local Show
Find a local theater in your community and see what upcoming shows are coming to town. Is a local high school putting on Bring It On: The Musical(it’s a thing)? Is a community center holding a futuristic, space ballet performance? Supporting your local arts scene can mean connecting more with your date and your community.
10. Brainstorm Date Ideas For The Rest Of The Year
Write down all the things you want to do with your boo this year, as well as any exciting activities you’ve always wanted to try in your city. Mix them all up and place them in a bowl. The next time you’re wondering what to do for date night, pick something out of the bowl and commit! Having a bunch of ideas ready to go can nix any, “Well, what do you want to do?” boredom for the rest of the year.
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
In 9th grade, I was a total loser. But even back then one of the few things I had going for me was my artistic ability. I found a friend at Fels Junior High named Robert Weichert. He was a quiet thoughtful boy. Good looking with amazing blonde curly hair like a young Robert Plant.
We were of like mind. We liked rock music and comic books. He would come over to my house and we would hang out in my room and listen to records and read comics together. I remember my times with Robert were amazing. He was one of the few people I had made a connection with. I remember laughing so hard with him that my stomach would hurt. Normally my stomach only hurt if I was having anxiety, some reaction to food, or I was being punched by some bully in school.
We both hated school and all of the animals we had to deal with in that zoo. Even the teachers.
Robert had a talent for writing and I had a talent for drawing. We would make up our own line of superheroes. He would write the little stories, and I would draw the comics. It was a perfect union of creativity that belonged only to us in our little teenage world.
I think his family was breaking up. He said he was going to take the name of the man who was now with his mother. I don’t remember many details but it must have been a rough time for him. The man’s last name was Ketterer and I noticed that Robert would write the name “Ket” on his record albums to identify them as his when he went to summer camp.
Boys didn’t really talk about feelings or family back then. We simply lived in the moment. If we were together laughing, reading comics, and listening to rock we were happy. It was these little moments of repose that were the only solace we had in the hellish existence in junior high school.
When I think about how my daily life was back then in 9th grade, I displayed all of the symptoms of someone who was profoundly depressed. A terrible student, and the thing my father always told me not to become… A victim. I was a victim every day. More like a target. Deal with the animals at school, and then come home and face the king of them all at home, when his car would pull up the driveway each night.
I was growing weary of being picked on and humiliated at school on a daily basis and also by some of the boys that hung up the corner from our house.
I remember gathering a couple of small empty green 7up bottles that I had taken out of our trash. I rinsed them out and filled them with paint thinner or some other accelerant we had in our basement. I tore up some rags and tied them around the necks of the bottles and capped them. I hid them under the sinks in the front of our basement. I was thinking if things got to a breaking point with this one specific kid that had it in for me, I would go to his house and throw those Molotov cocktails through his front windows.
It was a dark time. But I never acted on any of my ideas. But at least I felt a moment of comfort knowing that I could do something to end it once and for all. Instead of lashing out with words and hands, my depression was simply my rage turned inward on myself.
I think I eventually dumped them out, thinking if my mom found out that I was building firebombs in the basement she’d have me committed.
I remember going to my guidance counselor about this other kid that was torturing me for his own pleasure at school. The counselor knew this boy and his advice to me was to hit him back. The kid was a coward, and I should hit him back and he’d stop. That’s wonderful advice, sir. More violence. I am not a violent person. But back then I had a seething temper I later learned to control. When you’re 14 you’re at your absolute purest as a young killer. The hormones and chemicals firing in your brain make you act out. But I never did. But I knew if I ever did anything, it wouldn’t be a scuffle in the schoolyard where I could get my glasses broken and my teeth knocked out. I would simply end it with my attacker.
I knew I had to control that animal that lived inside my mind. I knew him very well and he was worse than any punk at school or the beast who lived down the hall. But I knew if I ever let him out, he’d do something that he could never take back.
You’d think I would have simply walked back to the lot at the end of our street and laid on the railroad tracks and wait for the train to take me.
But I’ve never had thoughts of suicide. Never. No matter how bad things ever got in my life I never wanted to do that. Nobody asks to come here. You should be able to leave when you want to. It’s your life. It’s really all you own. But you don’t really own it. Your soul inhabits a vessel that you rent until it expires and you’re gone.
I used to say that 9th grade was the worst year of my life. It was then, but I would have worse times in the future. But they all happened by my own device. My own bad decisions. Mostly on the people, I chose to have in my life.
But that’s not what this story is about.
At some point, Robert’s mother said she was going to take Robert out of school for one day to take him to Great Adventure. He wanted me to come with him. I had never been there but I had heard about it on TV. Wildwood had a bunch of amusement rides on the boardwalk, but Great Adventure was a big amusement park in New Jersey. I didn’t like the wild rides in Wildwood. Most of them were things that went up high, spun around, or went too fast. I wasn’t having any of that and preferred the more gentle attractions on the boardwalk like the Pirate Ship, Whacky Shack, or the Keystone Kops on Hunt’s Pier.
I have no idea how we got that trip approved. I was a horrible student basically flunking out of all of my subjects. Please tell me the last time you needed Algebra or Spanish in the last month. I remember my father giving me a small, sharp lecture on how he shouldn’t let me take a day off from school to go play in an amusement park with some friends. Why should he let me go, or reward my poor performance in school by giving me a special day off to go play in a park?
I have no idea, but my parents let me go. I was having my usual low-level anxiety about getting in a strange car with Robert’s mom and his stepdad, but I sat in the back of their station wagon with Robert, and seeing him kept me calm. He was really sweet like that. He was my comrade. The writer and creator of our little comics. Deneb 6, Cestus, Midnightess, Prince Apollo, Captain Universe, Kid Universe, and the Prowler. I loved the Prowler. I designed a cool costume for that character in the comics we made.
Turns out his mom was a really nice lady and her husband was a good, chill guy. They looked like the type of folksy couple that would run a gift shop in some little village somewhere. I felt at ease with them as the car headed over the Tacony Palmyra Bridge into New Jersey.
We get to the park and Robert’s mom and stepdad are just lovely to be around. Just really cool people. They bought us both little bracelets that were all-day passes to the park. We could go on any ride as many times as we wanted, as long as we wore the bracelets.
Then the incredible happened. They cut us loose. They told us where to meet them and what times to check in, but they walked away.
It was a beautiful sunny day in a new world with my friend. His folks said they were going to probably get some food, and then go check out the wild animal safari. That’s where you drive your car through an animal preserve and look at wild animals. Monkeys jumping on your car, etc. I watched as his parents simply left us alone and we were two 14-year-old boys free to do whatever we wanted in the park. I was stunned and elated.
We walked around and explored the park. It was beautiful. Just me and one of my best friends, free for the afternoon in a wonderland. I don’t remember all of the things we saw and did, but I remember how I felt that one day with Robert. We were both free from school and everything else for a day.
We both loved girls at that point. What teenage boy doesn’t? There was plenty there, which surprised me because I thought they should all be in school. But I suppose most were tourists from somewhere else out with their families.
At some point, Robert asked me if I wanted to go on the log flume with him. I had never been on the log flume on Hunt’s Pier or any rollercoaster, due to my fear of everything.
But Robert gently coaxed me with his words.
“Come on, Chaz. It’ll be fun. Look, there’s a bunch of girls going on it. Maybe we can talk to them.”
“I’m afraid, Rob. I don’t go on rides like that. I’m scared I’ll get sick.”
“You’ll be okay. I’ll be right there next to you. No pressure. But we’ll have fun. It’ll be over before you know it.”
“Okay.”
I was terrified, and probably trembling as we approached the gate. The fear crept in. The worst part was when you committed and got in line. Once you were far enough in on the line there was no turning back. I didn’t want to wreck my friend’s day by running away and being embarrassed.
We finally got to the front of the line. The attendant steadied the log/boat and we got in.
“Just breathe, Chaz. Trust me.”
I did trust Rob. We were close. We shared a lot. I needed to steady myself and survive this scary ordeal. I knew I shouldn’t have done this! I’m probably going to puke!
The boat floated along for short a time and then grabbed the rubber rotating conveyor belt that carried it up the first hill. It was a small one so I held on tightly. I could hear Rob’s voice. He was calming me, but only a little. I was on high alert. I was in danger. But Robe was there. I’ll be okay. I’ll be okay, right? I won’t die. Look at all of these other people. They’re all happy and I’m terrified. They’re all having fun and right now I am living in the opposite. My whole psyche is upside down in this life. Why am I like this? Why can’t I be like everybody else?
We reach the top and the boat slides down the small hill with a splash!
I didn’t die. That was okay, and I’m nervously laughing in relief. That wasn’t so bad.
Then the next climb is a bit higher. Another hill. Again… up and then down. Splash! I somehow have survived again. It’s a miracle. The boat’s cruising along and two girls are sitting right in the seat in front of us. They’re giggling and looking back at us and… smiling.
I must be strong. The boat climbs an even higher hill. But for some reason, I’m not dying. Rob’s smiling and reassuring me. I can’t look like a loser in front of these cute girls. We’re low in the boat and I focus my eyes on the inside of the small craft. We’re pretty high up and I can’t look out, because I’ll die. But the way these little log boats are constructed we’re low in the seats to keep the center of gravity down.
The boat is at the top now. But it doesn’t go right down a hill. It goes along on a straight line around the top. It’s making a turn now. I glance over. I can see the hill over to my left. That’s the hill we’re going to go down. We’re so high up. I’m scared but I have to hold it together, for Rob and for myself.
We get to the crest of the hill and down we go. I can hear the screams of delight from the girls in front of us, and as we land with an enormous splash I feel a sudden rush of relief wash over me (Along with a lot of water!)
That’s it. I did it. I went on my first thrill ride and I didn’t puke or die. It’s a gosh-darned miracle.
We exit the ride and are pretty wet, along with everybody else. It feels good. I experienced what exhilaration felt like for the very first time. I’m not athletic and don’t do any sports or anything risky, so my fear turned into relief and excitement. It felt good. I didn’t know it back then, but the dopamine was dropping. What a wonderful relief. What a wonderful feeling. The girls even talked to us a little bit after the ride. It was nice. For the first time, I didn’t feel like a leper mutant.
“See, Chaz. You did it. It was great, right?”
“Yea… yea… It was pretty cool. I was panting and feeling joy and relief.
I liked that feeling.
“Do you want to walk around a little bit?”
“No Rob. Let’s get back in line.”
We rode that log flume probably a dozen times that day. I was frightened, but I was with Rob. We did it together. I felt safe with him and liked the high I got from the ride. I had somehow turned my fear into excitement. I learned something about myself that day.
Nothing is ever as bad as you think it is, as long as you don’t let the fear in.
You can take that fear and turn it into something else. I was a long way from conquering my anxiety or my depression, but it was a step, albeit a small one.
But it was a step. The only thing holding me in my prison cell was me holding onto the bars. If I would just let go, the bars would fall away and I could walk right out.
It’s not that simple, but I learned that if you want to conquer something in your life, simply take a step. Any step. Just take the step. Then slowly walk toward the things you fear. Keep doing it over and over, and after a few years or decades in my case, you’ll rewire your mind to carry forth into tomorrow.
My life changed that afternoon in a small way. I thankfully graduated from 9th grade and went to the seashore for the summer. The summer of 1977 was the first great summer of my young life. Everything changed and I was on my way.
I rode every rollercoaster in Wilwood that summer.
The Supersonic on Sportland Pier, The Jumbo Jet on Morey’s Pier, The Flyer on Hunt’s Pier, The Wild Mouse on Marine Pier, and the glorious Queen’s Rollercoaster on Marine Pier West.
One evening I rode every rollercoaster on the island!
Life can be like a rollercoaster. There’s all that anxiety and fear as you climb the hill of your life. You slowly reach the top and you’re terrified. It’s too high. I’m going to die. Then the coaster zooms down the first hill and the fear turns into excitement. Every hill after that is never as thrilling as that first one. That long difficult climb to the top to face your fears is now behind you. Once the ride is over and the coaster roars into the station, you can only think about one thing.
I can’t wait to do that again.
Rob and I lost touch after Junior High because he went to a different high school than me. But I’ll never forget that boy, and that special day we got to play hooky from school and go on a great adventure together.
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