There are so many reasons why I never want to get on a roller coaster. Although it is possibly one of the most exquisite things created by the hands of man that I have ever seen – the elegant curves and brilliant mechanisms - I don’t really wanted to ride it. Maybe because of the scary movies I’ve watched about it or because of the incessant screams or the dizziness that follows almost always after. I have always been the go-getter but it frightens me to get on that roller coaster ride.
Although the ride I am writing right now is not the one you’d pay for just to get you dizzy. It actually is the ride where most joins the line because of the following reasons: just for the heck of it; their friends cajoled them to go; they had no other choice; and they had no idea why they were there. This ride I’m talking about includes adrenaline, dizziness, headache, heartache, disappointment, sleepless nights, utter confusion and so much more as side-effects. Ladies and gentlemen, I’m talking about that one roller coaster ride named, LOVE.
Why do I say that love is a roller coaster ride? Here are my reasons:
1. GET THE HECK IN LINE, PEOPLE!
The man-made roller coaster is not a ride for all; there are signals or warnings by the entrance of the said ride and love has that too. Love has certain restrictions – many would complain about it but let’s face it! It does! – You don’t get into it if you’re basically not ready. Once you are ready, like the roller coaster, you get in line. I have cited reasons for joining the line so look it up in the second paragraph. You wait for your turn or you cheat and get in front of other people just to get a turn. The anticipation as you watch other people get into it seems endless – it’s like you can’t wait to experience it yourself. Other people get impatient and sometimes even get out of the line and then they’d regret it later and get in line again.
It is probably one of the most torturous moments you’d ever experience in your whole entire life. You can’t wait for that one experience that you’ve heard every one talking about. And one by one, those in front of you get on and suddenly, you doubt yourself… am I ready?
2. KEEP YOUR ARMS TUCKED IN AND GET READY.
The attendants smile at you and one seat is reserved just for you but the question is, will you get in?
When finally, you decide that you will, you take your seat and take in a deep breath. This is it.
The ride starts slow and pleasant. Your path goes straight and steady and you decide that you like it. It isn’t like that though. The roller coaster goes faster and faster until you get the air knocked out of your chest. The ride gets bumpy and confusing. Each curve is unexpected and you let out a scream. It is frightening but exhilarating, scary but liberating. You turn right then left then it turns around again and again. Your emotions get hyped up – you want to cry, scream, love and destroy that damned ride for being so confusing yet so enjoying at the same time. You want to close your eyes but you’d miss everything. You decide that this ride isn’t for the unprepared but even you, who prepared so much, became so surprised at the mere experience of it.
Your mind is shaken. Your heart is beating fast. Your knees buckle.
Then, the ride is over.
3. PLEASE DON’T GET OUT TIL THE RIDE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP.
Finally, the ride slows down…it’s finally over.
You don’t know what to feel because you don’t understand why it all went by so fast. You wanted to enjoy the ride longer but it isn’t like that. It slows down, and then it ends. You are pale from the experience and you don’t know who to hold unto while you get out. You can’t completely digest what was happening just because it was all just a colorful blur. You can’t decide if you like it or not because your head still can’t focus properly from all the speed and turmoil it underwent.
As you walk away from the roller coaster, you look back and see the line getting longer. You think that they don’t know what they’re doing or that they don’t realize what they’re up against. You can’t decide whether to get in line again or to just wait until you’re ready to get into it again. People have very different reactions after: one thinks it is one heck of a ride and get on it again; one cowers from fear because of all the confusing feelings he has experienced from it but still has ideas on getting on; one will step back and wait till they’re ready again; and one will completely push it off from their mind and decide never to get on it again.
One this is for sure though… this is one of the experience that you won’t forget your entire life.
4. “I WANNA GO AGAIN!”
If you are completely mental, which most of us are, even that crazy experience, you’d still want to go again. It is one of the mysteries of life – why would you go again when you already know what’s in store? It is that one thought that some have in their heads to keep on going… That maybe, their next experience wouldn’t be so bad like the last one they had.
That’s the fun in life.
Without trying or even experiencing that certain moment, you may have existed but you really haven’t live at all.
Although I have been typing up many familiar experiences talking about roller coasters above, I am actually writing about love too. From the stories and this certain article about love being a roller coaster ride, the most important question is…
Are you ready to get on?
