Spiral Slide

When I was growing up, I always remembered that there used to be a big metal spiral slide in the park in town. I think I may have only gotten to play on it once in my life. Maybe during a kindergarten picnic. When I was little, I really liked slides. I think that may have been the only spiral slide I had ever seen. (I didn’t get out much. I was only six.)

Notice how I said “used to be”. The local gossip I had always heard was that they had removed the spiral slide from the park because some kid got hurt on it. I was always mad about that. For like 15 years. I know how to hold a grudge. How bad could the kid have been hurt, anyway?

Years later, I had started dating my future husband. We were in the car, headed somewhere. Probably looking for somewhere to make out. I think I looked at the park and what usually ran through my mind came out my mouth as well. Something like, “I can’t believe they took out the spiral slide just cause some kid got hurt.” Hopefully, I didn’t say much more than that. There is a reason why I can’t remember. That is because my future husband looked at me with an “I see dead people” expression and told me he was the kid. I thought he was joking. Then I didn’t know if he was joking or if he was serious. Finally I let it lay in case he was serious.

What are the chances?

Talk about a small world. Apparently when he fell he fractured his skull. Which sounds bad enough, but recently we talked to his cousin who was older at the time it happened and could remember more. Apparently he also stopped breathing and the fire department had to revive him. Scary stuff. Especially on a four year old.
I can’t believe in all the years I knew that story, I never knew who it was. His sister was in my grade in school and I still didn’t know. (Now, everyone knew which kid got his arm ripped off on the bridge—he was the kid in school with one arm.) If my husband hadn’t of made it that day, my son wouldn’t be the blond-haired (shut up, it isn’t red), blue-eyed, curious cutie he is today. It is amazing how our lives can be changed by tiny moments. (See my great-great-great-great grandparents falling through the ice.)

And it is also amazing how easy it is for one to put one’s foot in one’s mouth.

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