Ever since I was a little kid I dreamed of going to the local fairs with the awesome colored paper bracelet that would let you go on any ride you wanted as many times as you wanted. But I was so preoccupied by the cost of tickets for my parents that I would usually refuse if they asked me if I wanted to go on any rides. (Looking back I kind of wish I hadn't because some of those 'kiddie' rides look super fun?) I'm not saying my parents were poor or anything, but they definitely instilled in me an early worry for money.
So earlier this year (I'm trying to catch up my pictures with entries!) I asked Gladys if she wanted to help me realize my dream. I went to her knowing that she's been going to the Date Festival since she was a kid and braving the 'big kid' rides like a champ.
Admission was $9 and the ~bracelet (it was orange on this day) was $25. I'm very much familiar with the Date Festival since my grandparents like to visit every year, though mostly for the shows and stands. Also, I happened to work here twice. The first year was as a cashier at a pizza stand, and I remember at the time I wasn't even old enough to work and had to get a permit from school. However, I did make quite a bit of money from those two weeks, even though at the time the minimum wage was like $6.75 (though lets be honest, it hasn't gone up that much since then). The second time I worked at a burger stand, it wasn't the best experience because of a certain creepy guy...so I decided not to work there anymore.
Annnd! Last but not least, I happened to win a 2nd place ribbon for a photo I submitted when I was in high school. So I'm pretty familiar with the fair grounds but had never explored the rides area.
The first ride we got on! The 'FreakOut'
Knotts Berry Farm actually has a very similar ride to this one that I've been on before, La Revolución. Idk but for some reason, I think I can 'feel' these rides now that I'm older? I know I enjoyed the Knotts ride a lot when I was a kid, going on it even two or three times but with the Freak Out I could just feel my chest filling up with butterflies of dread? Nonetheless, I ended up going on it I think a total of four times...because I didn't want to feel left out. Ugh, why do I do this to myself??
Here's Gladys, looking super cute in front of the FreakOut in a turtleneck crop top and SUPER long hair.
We ended up going on almost all the rides, most of which I could feel myself falling out of and fearing for my life (not even exaggerating). By the end of the night my body was super tired and I'm sure I lost about five years of my life with all that I put my poor heart through.
The one ride I refused to go on because...
Nope. Yes. these things spin while the ferris wheel spins. Watch for yourself:
Even Gladys said it wasn't the greatest since she and her sister kept squishing each other as if turned and that it was super uncomfortable! It seemed the attendant was going to give them another spin but even I heard them yell at him that they wanted out lol.
Andd...the last ride of the night were the bumper cars! Always a classic and always fun to have your neck almost snap while others hit you from behind (um...).
This happened to be the last ride because unfortunately Gladys' sister lost her bag in this ride and we spent the rest of the night there looking for it (it was later found!).
Had to take some selfies since my hair was surprisingly behaving!
Wearing Kat Von D's Painted Love lipstick in Rosary
And of course one of my favorite parts of the fair are the photo booths!
So, I can finally cross one item off my bucket list. Would I go again? Yeah, maybe going on a date here would be cute (though not with the high school kid who went up to me and said I was pretty, though thanks for the compliment ^_^). But unfortunately I think my body is not quite up to being banged around by metal machinery (I had bruises the next day!). However, it was a great night full of firsts :)
-Maria
