When I was a little girl, I hated this ride. And I hated Ferris Wheels.
I think it has something to do with the freedom of swaying, the not-being-stuck-to-the-groundness of it. They aren’t coasters, on a track with a five point harness to smash me against the seat.
On these giant swings, suspended high above Southern California (incidentally, inside of a GIANT orange) my feet hang free. Kids kick off their flip-flops before they ride. I notice a LIFE-PRESERVER near the entrance, no doubt there because of some municipal code. I look around for the water hazard and remember that the Big Orange is in the middle of the man-made lagoon in Disney’s California Adventure. Okay, life-preserver noted, I figure that we will be swinging at such an angle that a potential broken chain might fling a person through the openings in the orange peel and out into the lake.
But my daughter, she has no fear. As I’ve written before, she accepts all the thrills of life with a squeal of joy and welcomes new adventures without hesitation.
We jump on, and I purposely sit behind Chad and Hope so I can video.
As we lift up, the ground seems to sink down and I can feel the weight of my body in my hips without anything for my feet to rest on. Hope immediately begins to laugh and scream (the constant high pitch in the video is her) and I’m not scared. Even the feeling of the loss of control, the knowledge that it’s only a few thin chains that keep me from being hurled into the murky water, it doesn’t scare me. I am watching Hope and she makes me laugh. She spreads her arms wide like a bird and giggles.
For the brief 90 seconds in the Big Orange, I feel like a kid – sitting on a chair or a sofa when your legs are too short to reach the floor; swinging at the playground so high that the chains give a little slack at the top.
I realize I no longer hate this ride. Its taken me awhile to let go enough so that the joys of being six infect me again.
The Big Orange from Sarah Markley on Vimeo.
Now I’m nauseated
Looks like fun – I love that ride! Thanks for taking us along!
It looks funner in your video then it does in person. I am not a big orange fan.
note to self: have a box of dramamine by my computer at all times.
That is incredible video quality. I am seasick, but still in admiration of your camera.
California Adventure! Such fun!
Looks like she was having the time of her life!!!
oh how i hate rollercoaster rides but oh how i LOVE this one! i am impressed tho, that you had enough gutts to let go in order to video…even tho it’s a “kiddy” ride i still get butterflies going up that high! this video was so cute. she truly reminds us of the joys in just being a kid!
what a cute video – I love it!
I am new to your blog – but have really enjoyed reading through your posts. You have such a beautiful way with words.
I’m on the east coast – so have never seen the big orange! But looks like fun to me. Isn’t it amazing how much we learn from our children?! They are truly a gift!
i am glad you found new joy and renewed pleasure in the ride
) morgan went on them last night at our county fair – just watching her go round and round was making me feel sick. i used to be able to do spinning rides when i was younger but as i get older it doesn’t happen. i can still do the rollercoaster which is my favorite 
)
fun video. so cute to hear the delight in her voice.