Let me tell y’all about one of my favorite days from when I was 12, right here in New Orleans at City Park. My best friend Kayla and I decided to spend the day at the theme park, and we were ready to squeeze every bit of fun out of it.
First on our list was the flying horses. You know, that old-school carousel with the beautifully painted ponies? I always picked the one with the gold saddle and the wild, flowing mane because it made me feel like I was galloping through some magical bayou. Kayla picked the horse with a wild look in its eye, claiming it was the fastest. We rode that carousel so many times, I swear we started seeing stars, but we didn’t care. We were caught up in the whirl of colors and the sound of that old-timey carousel music.
After our flying horse adventure, we headed straight for the ladybug roller coaster. Now, don’t let the cute name fool you—this ride was no joke when you’re 12 and full of excitement. Kayla dared me to keep my eyes open the whole time, but I couldn’t help but squint every time we zoomed down the tracks, giggling like maniacs. We screamed our heads off, holding on tight as we whipped around the curves, feeling like we were about to fly off the tracks any second.
But the best part of the day had to be the train ride through City Park. There’s something about those old trains that feels so magical, like you’re being transported to another time and place. As we chugged along, we passed under those ancient oak trees draped with Spanish moss, the air filled with the scent of blooming flowers and that good ol’ Louisiana humidity. It was so peaceful, with the breeze in our faces and the sights of the park rolling by, it felt like the whole world had slowed down just for us.
But you know how kids are—we couldn’t stay still for long. After the train ride, we ran over to get some ice cream. I got a big ol' cone of chocolate swirl, and we sat down by the lagoon to enjoy it. But just as I was about to take a bite, Kayla spotted something in the water—this headless lizard, of all things, still moving around like it had a mission. I don’t know what kind of backwoods science that was, but it sent a shiver down my spine. And wouldn’t you know it, that sight mixed with my melting ice cream had me losing my lunch in the trash can. Kayla thought it was the funniest thing ever, but I wasn’t so sure!
Then, in classic Kayla fashion, she decided to take things up a notch by jumping right into the lagoon. She popped up covered in slime and all sorts of muck, looking like she’d gone wrestling with a swamp monster. But that’s Kayla for you—always diving headfirst into trouble and coming up laughing.
Even with all the slime, weird lizards, and a near-missed ice cream disaster, that day was one of the best. We rode every ride, laughed until our bellies hurt, and soaked in every bit of fun City Park had to offer. It was one of those days where everything feels like a grand adventure, and even the gross and silly moments turn into memories you wouldn’t trade for anything.
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