Riding a rollercoaster: psychological and physical experiences

English Literature - Roller Coaster

RIDING a ROLLER COASTER

For me, the experience of riding a roller coaster begins long before the actual ride itself. My adrenalin begins to flow on the walk through the amusement park toward the ride. I experience so-called "tunnel vision" during the walk in that I stop noticing other rides and distractions of any other kind including my favorite amusement park food stands where I will be spending my money later. As I make my way over to the line and take my place, I become aware of the fact that my heart rate is already increasing to the point that I can feel it pumping against my shirt.

The line always seems to move excruciatingly slowly and during that time my pulse rate slows back down as the anticipated excitement turns into frustration and impatience. At that point, little things start to bother me more than usual, from the obese woman in front of me eating cotton candy as though it has no calories to the little kids continually running under and around the posts holding up the ropes guiding the line. I am simultaneously jealous of the people at the front of the line, especially when it is obvious that they realize they will be in the next group to ride.

As I finally make it to the same coveted spot at the end of the line, my heart begins to race once again, only this time, it seems to be twice the rate it was racing on the walk over to the ride. My stomach feels like it has constricted to a fraction of its normal size as though sucked out by a vacuum pump and I wonder whether the obese lady in front of me could possibly be experiencing the same thing considering all the cotton candy she just swallowed. I remind myself to take a seat far enough from her to avoid coming off the ride in shades of pink, just in case. The few seconds between the time I am buckled into my seat and the time the ride begins to move seem to expand into hours, but finally, we are on our way headed up the first incline.