I have mentioned that I loved roller coaster through my younger years. I could handle spinning rides that others could not. No, I asked for them. My best ride was the one where everyone stood against the outside wall. When the ride was going fast enough, the bottom would drop out leaving us suspended against the wall. Bigger people would start to slide down, but often I was last to touch the floor again. The ride would finally be going so slow that I would just drop the 4 feet down.

When my granddaughter asked me to go on a roller coaster with her, I was thrilled. Until I heard the names of my choices. It was either the Pirate Terror or the Poltergeist. I opted for the first one because I have seen the movie called Poltergeist. This is the one where the little kid touches the TV screen and gets sucked into it. This horror is on my list to never watch again. We walked around past this evil coaster in search of our selection only to discover that the Terror ride was closed. That sent us back to, you got it, the Poltergeist.

Though I was assured that it only went upside down twice, it was still the name that was getting to me. I was grateful when there were no TV screens along the walkway to the ride. When we were done, I was done. Happily, my wonderful granddaughter said that was enough for her too.

I was in the front of my classroom this week pointing to the screen describing the math problem there. There screen suddenly slid up and back down multiple times. I took a step away and waited. Fortunately, my students did not understand the fear I was feeling. I thought, “It’s back!” Turned out, it was just another scary Thursday.

I am here and enjoying a Happy Friday, as I hope you are as well.