Yesterday was Justin’s birthday so we headed to Blizzard Beach in Orlando. Blizzard Beach is a giant water park and we planned to spend our day relaxing, soaking up the sun and escaping the heat.

While I was laying in the lazy river, I thought about the last 2 times I had been to the park.

When I was 16:

Blizzard Beach wasn’t open that long before I went the first time. It was an overcast day but it never seemed to rain. It kept the park empty which made it easy for us to be able to ride any ride as many times as we wanted.

I went with my friend Jodi and her fiancee Joey. It was Jodi’s gift to Joey for his birthday. We were so excited when we got there we raced up the mountain to ride the first ride. We learned two things quickly, there were a lot of stairs and you had to pick up your raft for the ride down below before heading up.

Since we had already climbed up there, we only had two options to get down. We could either walk all the stairs again or ride one of the two body slides down. The one body slide is a straight drop and the other is just as scary but you it isn’t a straight drop, more like 3 hills you slide over.

Joey jumped down the slide first and gave us the thumbs up. Jodi went next. As she got up, Joey ran to her, said something and they both looked at me with a thumbs up. I pushed off and down I went.

It was so scary, it hurt my back and I thought I was going to fall out of the slide. I couldn’t wait to hit the bottom which, luckily because of how fast I was going, it didn’t take long. Jodi told me when I hit the bottom how scary it was but Joey reminded her that she had to look tough because it was my only way down. I knew I would never do it again but I lived and we went on with our days.

I rode everything there and had a wonderful time. Never once felt scared or nervous to be on any ride. Maybe because I had already down the worse one or maybe because I didn’t allow fear to be a part of my life.

When I was 18:

I returned to the park when I was 18. 2 of my friends and I had planned this great adventure. Stacey was at my house earlier and we headed out to grab Craig. When we got to Craig’s house, he didn’t answer the door. We waited for 20 minutes but he never came. Stacey and I went on our own.

We had a great time and again, I rode almost everything. We laughed, eat and got soaked. It was a wonderful time.

I remember that I kept thinking about Craig. Wondering why he ditched us? I was worried about out friendship and what would happen from this event.

Today:

I am at Blizzard Beach with my BF of almost 5 years celebrating his birthday. I do not ride most of the rides anymore because they seem to go to fast for me now or I just think they do. When I use to run like crazy all over the place to get everything done, I know enjoy sitting in the lazy river and just being away form my cell phone and getting some sun.

I remember those times like they were yesterday but at the same time they seem so far away. I do not even know that boy back then as he is now a man. My life has changed so much and it is amazing to see how you change over the years. Some for the good and maybe some for the bad.

In the end, we are all just moving along life’s lazy river in our own personal journeys.

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