Summertime and Change

It’s summertime. The weather is changing (*). School is out. The BBQ’s are firing up. Fourth of July is approaching. It’s the summer, and it feels unlike any summer I’ve ever had before.  There’s something missing, something different, and if you know me, or know a little bit about me, it’s rather obvious to know why it’s different.

(*) When it comes to weather change, here in Missouri may just take the cake. It’s entirely possible/plausible to walk ten feet and feel a temperature change.

This is my first summer without the amusement park in my life. This is the first summer without the games department in my life. It’s the first summer that I’m not working 60+ hour weeks, rain or shine, Monday-Sunday. It’s the first time in 12 years that I’ve had consecutive Saturdays off. I can’t put into words how weird of a feeling it is.

This site would not exist if I was still working at the park, but the crux of saying that is that the site would never exist if it wasn’t for the amusement park in the first place.

When I left the park, I made a farewell video, something close to my heart. It was difficult to do. I still have a hard time watching it without getting emotional.

I got a message today from a friend of mine, an employee still at the park, it read the following, “Just letting you know we still miss you,” and included this photo:

Click to enlarge - Cole’s name written on the back wall of a games section, seen in the video “The End”

I immediately replied, “Miss you guys too.”

Cole