I took my kids to Elitch Gardens over the weekend. Let me just say-as amusement parks go-ours is a bit of a minnow. Though it has come a long way since its days on Tejon and 44th, it still doesn't compare to places like Magic Mountain in LA or Kings Island in Cincy. Now those are amusement parks. However, when it comes to the clientele, I believe it's probably similar.
Very interesting cultural diversity at these places. I cannot believe how many tattoos and piercings people can fit onto their bodies. I found it hard not to stare at times. I am one of those people who stares. I cannot help it. I am also amazed at how expensive everything is-and wondering how some of these folks can afford it. Honestly, it doesn't look like some of these kids could hold down jobs. One kid in front of me in line for Icees had a Mohawk about 10 inches high and some angry Tshirt with "F "you written on the front in big letters. I cannot imagine this kid in a job interview. I wondered if his parents knew what he was wearing-but judging from the rest of his appearance, I am not sure it would even be noticeable.
I realize I live in a suburbia bubble these days but I am not sure I could have ever done the urban lifestyle. I guess I am showing my age. Amusement parks amuse me for a whole different reason than they did when I was a kid.
It's funny that you are writing about this! I was down at the local SF amusement park a couple of months back and had many of the same thoughts. Even more of a realization to me was my lifestyle and my geography have kept me away from teens for so long that they are practically like aliens to me!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm even a little frightened of teens... you can't predict them and they seem to have NO fear of adults like we did...
I find the same phenomenon at smaller amusement parks. Such an eclectic bunch we are... humans, that is. I always look around and realize how infinitely greater God's capacity to love must be than mine (as if that doesn't go without saying...)
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate because just like with so many other things it is the extreme and fringe minorities that give a bad name to the rest. Some kids are pretty scary... But then there are so many that are just trying to find their way in the world- and doing it without profanity on their t-shirts, thank God.
JDH-disaffected youth!
ReplyDeleteLori-you are so right about God's capacity. We are lucky for that. And I do believe most teenagers (and adults for that matter) are good-it just takes the shocking ones for us to forget that. Every generation from the beginning of time and until the end of time will look at the next one with disbelief and a series of "when we were that age..." comments I guess.