Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Roller Coaster Ride

You prepare yourself for the ride - you do lots of research finding the right one - you save your money, you stand in line and when you get to the front you are relieved to find you meet the height requirement.

You know this is going to be a crazy ride but you have pumped yourself up for it. How bad could it be really? Everyone else getting off the ride as you get on is smiling and looks happy. Oh sure there are a few people who look a little green in the face but you are strong, you can make it thru with grace and style.

As you get on the ride you are giddy with anticipation. Your palms are sweaty, and your stomach turns nervously! You belt yourself in tightly - you don't want to fall off - no, that wouldn't be cool.

You say a little prayer that the tracks won't fall off or the ride attendant won't fall asleep. You lean back and tell yourself "enjoy the ride".

As you go up the first incline - you are happy, happy you were brave enough to get on the ride. You look at the people who are standing watching the ride - they are too scared to even think about it - they admire you for your bravery...or your lunacy - whatever!

You are seated somewhere in the middle of the ride - you see there a quite a few people ahead of you at the front of the ride - oh how you wish you were there. You turn and look behind you and see the people behind you, their grins telling you it will be o.k - we are in this together!

As you nose dive down the first hill, you think, "heck, ya! I can do this!"

Then the twists and turns start to come - you brace yourself for the next turn, your hair whips around your face and you hold on as tight as you can making your knuckles go white.

You can't believe how long the ride is - when you were in line no one told you it would be so long. You start to panic and wonder if the ride attendant did, indeed, fall asleep - did he forget he had passengers? - will he wake up and bring us home?

As you hurtle thru the ups and downs and twists and turns, you hear others yelling too, you know you are not alone - you take comfort that you are not the only one yelling at the top of their lungs.

You start to feel nauseous - you might not be able to hold on very much longer - you grasp on to your husband because he is stronger and won't let you fly off the ride!!

You scream out "WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO?" and "I WOULD LIKE OFF NOW!". The attendant just smiles and says "Soon, you will be able to get off soon. You are almost to the end, but you need to hold on just a little longer."

18 comments:

Julie said...

I never did like Roller coasters. Are you referring to me as 'green in the face'? I agree. (:
You could still hear something this week right? Has your rep given out all of the referrals that she has? I mean proposals.

andrea said...

Perfect analogy... hang in there! A

Natalie and Chris said...

What a great way to decribe this journey. I would love to share on my blog if I could.

I hate roller coasters, but I know how scary they are so I don't get on. With Adoption no one told us how scary and hard the ride would be and you are way to close to the front of the ride to get off now.

Natalie and Chris said...

What a great way to decribe this journey. I would love to share on my blog if I could.

I hate roller coasters, but I know how scary they are so I don't get on. With Adoption no one told us how scary and hard the ride would be and you are way to close to the front of the ride to get off now.

Ramona said...

I more then hate roller coasters. Feel ill thinking about them. And, needless to say, I'm stuck on that upward stretch where it feels like you are about to sale off into no where and crash hard... My stomach is not happy. I like to plan and be in control. I like to know what's next on my list. I don't want to be told that I can ride again- I want this ride to end and feel the rush of the call...
Oh Rana, I feel for you right now too!!!
Ramona

The Turgeon Expansion said...

Rana, you are not allowed to get off or jump off this ride! You're almost there, really you are. And then you are going to have the hugest jolt of excitement :D

Listen to me, I'm smart. (that was just a little plug for me)

Stephanie said...

Great analagy Rana....hang on it's very very close to your time to get off the ride!

Steph ;-)

Anonymous said...

Perfect analogy. I want to get off too. This ride is way too long and I am sure I am going to throw up! Maybe this wasn't worth it after all. Am I really supposed to be doing this? I don't know anymore. i hope you hear soon. You are so close!

from,
Someone second guessing her decision...

Jess said...

I would also like to use that on my blog if I can... you are always so good with words! I read through someones adoption story on their blog (they have gotten off the roller coaster) and it sunk it that yes... it does end... there is an end to it unlike infertility. So hang on... the ride doesn't last forever!

hazel said...

Rana, this describes the trip perfectly. I'm pretty green around the gills these days...

Ranavan said...

Julie - I don't know - I don't think we will hear anything this week - ugh!

Natalie and Jess - of course you can use this on your blog :)

Rhonda - I am NOT getting off -don't worry your pretty little head

And Dear Someone who is second guessing - don't give up - get on the ride and stay on! You have to forgive me - there are days when I just let what I am thinking rip - it is more to clear my mind than to dissuade others - STAY ON THE RIDE FRIEND!!!

writex3 said...

Visiting from Haze's blog...I hope you both get your referrals very, very soon.

Lonnie said...

I LOVE roller coasters! I'm glad to be on for the ride even with the ups and downs, frustrations and set backs, fears and regrets. I hope that this portion of your ride is nearly over. Keep Hanging On!

The Warren Family said...

Great post, you did an amazing job of coming up with an analogy for the adoption experience!

Anonymous said...

It sure is a wild ride! And one I am sure you'll be happy to get off. And then... you have a whole new roller coaster ride to look forward to... but more like the kiddie kind for the first little bit!

Anonymous said...

This is so well written Rana! I have often equated our past adoption journeys as emotional rollercoasters but I wasn't expected this one to be but man, was I ever wrong! It has been one of the longest and twistiest yet! These new court things have my stomach knotted and I sometimes feel the urge to "jump off the ride".

Janice said...

So well put. I always close my eyes on rollercoasters and then regret it later because I know I missed seeing what everybody saw. I wonder what this would mean in terms of adoption?

On a different note...How bout the bachelor getting rid of all those women this week....Good on him! I wonder what he was thinking when that one woman picked her nose in front of him (the one who vomited the week before). He seems very respectful of the women and he sure appears to be a genuine sweetheart.

Lizzard said...

Oh my gosh, I feel a little nauseous just from watching that ride!! :) This adoption trip certainly isn't for the faint of heart, eh? Hang in there! Liz