Kings Island

Last weekend, when we went to Chicago, I felt like The Clampetts traipsing through a 4 star hotel with our 20 pillows. Never mind, that I am like a fish out of water when I leave my county anyway... you can imagine what I am like in a big city. The big city of Chicago... where I had to take out a loan to feed my children. One less child could go to college if we fell into any of the tourist trap activities. Geesh! We got no bizniss in Chicago. We can not run with the big dogs in a place like that... we got to hide under the porch.

But, yesterday, we went to Kings Island (courtesy of Paul's parents). There's something about going to a place like Kings Island that makes me feel... well, a whole lot better about myself. I don't so much feel like the Clampett's in a place like that. I kind of feel like the Jeffersons... only we're white. Sing it with me now:

Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.

Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
Beans don't burn on the grill.
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in the big leagues
Gettin' our turn at bat.
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
There ain't nothin wrong with that.

Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.

I fear that by writing this, I may come across prideful, like I am better than certain people. That's not what I am trying to say. I just never seem to get over the people at these types of places... especially their clothing choice.

Yesterday, I decided I might do an independent study on the way people dress when they come to Kings Island.

I am just going to stand around with a note pad and a tape recorder. Then, I am going to stop people like the REALLY heavy girl in the white tank top without a bra (that was wet mind you) and say, "Excuse me? Could you tell me about your outfit today? Like, how did you decide that would be what you would wear today? Did you think about getting wet? Did you think through the fact that when it got wet, people would be able to see through it?"

Or the girl walking around in her swim suit top and a pair of jeans. "Excuse me? What makes you think it's socially acceptable to walk around here with a bikini top and a pair of jeans? Do you see other people walking around with similar type outfit? Would you go to the grocery story wearing that?" How about a restaurant?

Or the "home schooling- looking family" of 6 that ALL wore tan shorts and blue and white tie dyed shirts. It's not like they had 4 little kids with them. The youngest was probably 6 and the oldest 14. And, the dad and at least one of the boys had their shorts hiked up to their chests while their mom had on a HUGE fanny pack. "Excuse me? What made you ALL wear the exact same thing? Did you want to stand out like a sore thumb? Why do you pull your shorts up so high?"

(By the way, until Tuesday, I can say anything I want about homeschoolers because I am one. On Tuesday, my girls will go to school for the first time EVER- we will lose our homeschool status.)

I'm pretty sure some time during the course of the day, I'd get beat up.... or at least punched. BUT, it might be worth it if I could understand some of the decision making processes of these people.

And, how is it that some people don't look like they came to Kings Island for the day... they some how look like they just belong there. I'm not even sure what that means.

And, why do couples come there and hang all over each other. I don't understand that. Holding hands... totally fine. But kissing and hugging and groping and leaning all over each other. Why? Why do that in public? No one wants to see that! And, these really young kids, if they are doing these things out in public, what in the world are they doing when they are alone? DO NOT ANSWER THAT!

We left Kings Island around 8 pm. My children were wet and dirty. The girls hair looked like the fur a of neglected cat. They were tired and cranky. You'd think we'd have raced home to the shower, huh? Nope! We went to a wedding reception.

The reception was for a guy Paul mentored when we were at Cedarville. He also happened to work as a pastor of our church for awhile. He is also the reason we attend the church we attend. He invited us once, we went and we never looked back.

He's no longer a little midwestern homeschooled boy. He's works with Erwin McManus at a huge church in Los Angeles. He got married about a month ago in LA so he came home for an Ohio reception. His family lives on a ranch and a couple of years ago they added on a small 3000 square foot addition to their already large home. I think it's perfectly acceptable to do something like that if you have birthed 3 children and then adopted 8 children internationally.

The reception was held there. We met this guy's new wife, hung out, ate some unbelievable Korean food (and I hate Asian food) and talked to people we have not seen in a long time. It was really fun. We left about 11 pm.

Today, I am sure there are people asking: Who were those people at the reception last night with those dirty kids? Why would they come looking like that? Why'd they come at 9 pm when it started at 6?

I'm sure you get the point:-)

Hank and Sueann