I was gonna write…

for a title "Hell is for children".

But then again I thought of something else and will save that topic for another day.

We spent the weekend doing volleyball at "Wilderness at the Smokies".  Saturday we had a good part of the day for the indoor water park.  They have this boogie board ride.  Not sure how to describe it easily, but here goes.  At the bottom it has a landing pad that is padded in the middle with a flow of water coming out in a wide stream at about 30 MPH going up a hill.  At the top the water falls through a grate.  The effect is riding a wave or fast flowing current down hill.  Which you ride with a boogie board.  I tried this last year and wiped out again and again.  But it was fun!

So, this year I got in line again and watched everyone in front of me intently.  And thought I had some ideas.  I’m still sore by the way.

While waiting I couldn’t help but notice this skinny guy several people ahead of me in this black and red "Sea Doo" outfit.  He also had a headset camera and his own board.  Now I’m curious.  Is he really all that?  Yeah, he was!  I’ve never seen anyone ride like him.  Awesome is such an over used word but he was.  If anyone saw Shaun White in the Olympics you know that no one else was even in his league.  This guy was the Shaun White of this little ride.

So it’s finally my turn.  Rides are limited to about 45 seconds.  I had figured out that the number one mistake most people make is taking a big jump onto the board and wind up going down too fast and run aground at the bottom.  So I edged my way into the rushing current and made my way into the flow.  It wasn’t perfect but I didn’t wipe out.  I stayed on the board and had control for the entire 45 seconds.  For an old guy you wear out in less than 45 seconds believe me.  So more from wore out than loss of control I found myself drifting to my right and out of the flow and ended my ride.  I rolled off the board and stood and leaned against the wall trying to catch my breath and while I’m gasping for air I hear a sound.  It finally registers that it’s coming from the other side and I look up to see what it is and the "Sea Doo" guy is standing on the other side clapping and as I look up at him he flashes two thumbs up!

I couldn’t freakin’ believe it!  This guy is way younger than me.  Way better than me.  And he’s giving me two thumbs up!  Maybe he was just amazed that someone my age could stay on the board, but I’ll take it.

I have no idea who he was, but he made my day.