#220 -Don't Like Missed Opportunities

Arkansas

Yesterday we got home from our Missouri trip to see my dad. Weather was lousy on our driving days and we weren't really up for meandering.

I still had a good time staring out the window in Arkansas. I missed a lot of good photo ops, but managed to grab my phone and snap a few shots from the car window. I loved those pumpkin hay rolls... one, with a mask!

Stop!

​But when I spotted this park in Harrison, Arkansas I shrieked! It was the funny slide that caught my eye.

I made Don do a U-turn and drive up to the park. He opted to sit in the warm car, while I made a beeline for the slide. I remember it from a park in Grinnell, Iowa. I was small and the slide seemed monstrous!

I was giddy as I pondered the steep and slippery slide. I remember my older brother skillfully making it to the top. I was too young. My sister called it the Piano Slide. I can see why.

I wandered and grinned to myself and took a stupid selfie. I recognized all the Miracle Playground Equipment! They made this stuff just outside of our town in Iowa.

The park was empty. More from weather than Covid probably. I enjoyed having it to myself. Don doesn't share these memories, so I didn't force him to get out and play.

Research

As we drove along later, I texted my sibs to see what they remembered. I looked on the internet and found the slide's odd name. "Earn-A-Slide". Makes sense.

1967

I don't have photos of the old Piano Slide in Grinnell, but I do have this one. I'm wearing my Grinnell College sweatshirt.

Regrets

​Today I am feeling so mad at myself that I didn't climb that slide. I could have done it... I think I could have done it! 

So today we are back in TX and Don and I headed off on a walk. I put on my (larger) Grinnell College sweatshirt. I told Don I really regretted not climbing that darn slide, in Arkansas. I even had the sweatshirt in the car. Perfect photo op. I'm sure I could have dragged Don from the car to cheer me on.

This is what the pandemic does to us! It makes us extra nostalgic and it makes us feel anxious to do the silly things, that we might never have a chance to do again.