Ethyl Remembers: Family Fun

December 24,  Memphis, TN

It's winter time and the weather is cold here in Memphis.  When I say cold I mean anything under fifty degrees.  So that means it's chili weather. 
Rich, thick chili with three different types of beans and plenty of chili power.  And corn.  And peppers and onions and garlic and tomatoes.  Thick and rich, and oh, so tasty.
This morning I made a crock pot full and yesterday I cooked a crock pot full of brown rice to go with it.  Then for lunch today I had a bowl filled with brown rice, cheese, chili, and a dollop of sour cream on top.  And it took me back... Back twenty seven years ago when my sons were young and Liberty-land was still open and operating in Memphis.
Elvis made Liberty-land famous.  He loved it and he loved it's roller coaster, The Zippin Pippin'. It was said that some nights Elvis rented the entire park and he and his entourage rode the rides until morning.  And his favorite ride was the Pippin.  It was an old wooden roller coaster and man, was it fast.  The first time I rode it I was sixteen and on a trip to Memphis from Iuka.  When the ride ended and we disembarked, a friend of mine who was nearby laughed and said my face was gray...  I don't doubt it.  I was scared to death.
After we moved to Memphis, in the summer time every year we had a family outing to Liberty-land.  After six o'clock in the evening the prices were greatly reduced until it closed at ten o'clock, and our family always took advantage of this bargain..  Four hours were usually all my husband and I could take of this version of fun, and the boys could ride the rides until their hearts were content.  A great many of the visitors to the park had left by this time, so the lines were much shorter and the temperature was cooler then.  The temperature was cooler but the attendants were not.. The closer it got to ten o'clock the more anxious they were to end their day and go home, so they were usually in no mood to accommodate anyone.  Once when we were in the park at night I wanted to ride the Ferris Wheel.  The problem was it was going on ten o'clock and the attendant was ready to close it down.  We were the only ones who wanted to ride that ride and he was hesitant to take us up.  After some persuading he did grant our request, but then he stopped the blasted thing with us at the very top and let us sit there for what seemed like an eternity before he brought us down... Be careful what you wish for, you may get it..  I have a problem with heights and I though I would die before I got off that thing.  I have not ridden a Farris Wheel since.  Not even the London Eye and you are totally enclosed in that one.
But back to the matter of the chili and rice with cheese..  We had taken the boys to the park that summer evening and we planned to eat dinner there.  After some deliberations on the part of everyone involved we settled on the Mexican restaurant.  Studying the menu carefully, I finally ordered the chili with rice.  This was the first time for tasting that particular combination, and it may have just been extra delicious because we were starving or maybe it was the atmosphere in the park outdoors, or maybe the happy time with the family,   But whatever it was, I never forgot that particular evening with my husband and my sons and the happy smiles and camaraderie we shared as a family.  Now whenever I have chili and rice with cheese and sour cream it takes me back and I can hear the laughter of my sons as they thrill to the Zippin Pippin.
The park is now closed and the Pippin is no more.  Neither is Elvis.  And my sons are now grown men, out on their own..  And I thank God for them and for the happy times we had raising them.