Up-Down, Up-Down

I've watched the movie Parenthood with Steve Martin maybe 5 times in my whole life, beginning when I was a tween. Every time I watch it, I seem to be in a different section of life. Tween, teen, early twenties, late twenties right after Monsoon was born, and just now in my early thirties. Every time I see it, I find something new and hilarious that I can relate with - something I never even noticed in the movie before.

There's one scene that has stuck with me since that very first viewing at the By-Jo Theatre when I must have been only 11 or 12 years old.

When life seems like a perpetual string of insanity, I think of Batty old Grandma from Parenthood, chittering about her first roller coaster ride. "Up, down, up, down, oh what a ride... Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. Hmph..."

Sometimes life does feel like that first ride, climbing a hill for far too long. It's exhilarating and uncomfortable. It makes you feel sick half way up and might even be a little regrettable, but once you finally get to the top, you only have a few fleeting moments of fear before the momentum catches you and you can't help but smile through the screams.

There are two lessons in riding twice. You know what's coming the second time around. You're prepared, and there are fewer surprises along the way.

Lesson 1 - The more you ride, the more comfortable you get.

Lesson 2 - Those unexpected twists and turns, those hidden loops and surprise falls... they were a really big part of the fun.