I found myself in Aurora, Ohio yesterday morning. And since I had my calendar cleared I took some time driving around the community that I had not ventured into for several years. I made a point of driving out by the now closed Geauga Lake amusement park for old time's sake.
Driving out Rt. 43, and seeing the dilapidated fences, the now overgrown parking lot, the ticket gates in the distance succumbing to the harsh Ohio elements, along with the skeletal remains of the "Big Dipper" peering over the fence into sight, truly caused my heart to break a little.
Nearly 15 years ago, the park was bought by Six Flags, and in a marketing push many local radio stations were giving away season passes. I was on my way to run lights for a school matinee at the local theatre I was working with at the time, when my awesome girlfriend (now known as my awesome wife), called me. (Yes, we had cell phones back then!)
"They're giving away Six Flags passes on the radio, I think you could win this contest!" she said.
I turned on the radio and listened for a number to call, I pulled over and decided to try my luck.
They were playing a version of Password. "I got this." I confidently said to myself.
I called in, and managed to actually get in on the contest.
The password was "forward".
The other contestant was a lady, and since it was ladies first she got first crack at trying to coerce the plucky co-host into saying the password.
"Onward" came the crackling voice on the other end. She must have had a cell phone too.
"Upward" the co-host guessed. (never minding that using the -ward portion of the password was against strict contest rules). It was my turn.
"Backward??" I tried my best to emphasize with my vocal inflection that the password was opposite of my clue.
"Forward!" the co-host shouted in excitement.
Cue the dinging bell sounder!
I had actually won a radio contest, and the prize was something I really wanted!
A few days later the pass vouchers came in the mail and we made our way out to the park that weekend. We both lived about 30 minutes away, and we used the passes a TON that year. We would meet up for an evening on the midway during the week after work, or plan a Saturday to go and spend the day riding rides. We would often stay out until closing when the ride lines would dwindle to nothing. It wasn't uncommon to find us getting off a roller coaster only to run back through the turn-styles for another go, and another, and another.
For the next several years we would make an investment in season passes to the park and relive many of the same moments. Our memories of the park are filled with nothing but fondness and warmth, we had a blast!
Across the lake lies even more fond memories lying in waste. The closed Sea World park, which Six Flags had also bought out and then apparently proceeded to run into the ground. The annual trip to Sea World was the highlight of my childhood summers, with long lasting memories for myself, my family, and grandparents, memories never to be shared with my own children.
The last several months, have been months of saying farewell to past chapters of life. Driving by the old park yesterday tugged at my heart, and sent me on a nice trip down memory lane. I poked around the internet and and learned that the land is up for sale in small parcels instead of as a whole, it seems a shame. But as with many things there is a beginning and an end. And the only way to find out what God has for us next, is to let go of what we was behind us and press on to what is before us.
Here's to seeing what lies before us.
Blessings,
Jeremiah
