Fireworks
Exactly five years ago, we were in Ukraine, just two weeks into our five-week adventure for Masha’s adoption. For the next few weeks, I’m posting excerpts and a photo or two from each day. Sometimes funny, and sometimes proof of how naive we were, I hope you’ll enjoy our little trip down memory lane…
Saturday, 26 May, 2007 – Fireworks
Everything was totally back to normal today…
After lunch, we headed to the park by the sea, now known as “Crocodile Park.” This park is full of rides and attractions, and the vendors were ready for a busy Saturday at the park! Because it was Saturday, we decided to let them loose a little. First, they went through the Hall of Mirrors. It was actually a little more like a Room of Mirrors, but the girls had fun posing and making funny faces. While Mark and the kids were there, Sveta bought a puff of cotton candy much bigger than her head, and then the girls shared one when they came out.
They also found a very scary swinging ride; Mark and Fred took them over to this with Lisa, Sveta, and I sat on a bench in the shade…I am very glad I didn’t see this before it happened. I wonder how these kids live into adulthood with rides like this! It was a large, boat-shaped swing. The kids stood one on each end and one in the center, and then the operator pushed it by hand until they were swinging nearly 20 feet in the air. No seat belts or other safety straps of any sort. The woman pushing the thing had to push it nd then get out of the way as it swung back, and if she tripped, the thing would be sure to take her head off. And to slow it down and stop it, there was this giant lever that raised up a piece of wood on the platform underneath that grazed the bottom of the swing. Crazy!
After that, they repeated the Witch’s Wheel-Like Ride (we’ve discovered this is called “Surprise”…like you should be surprised when lunch comes back after riding it!), and then, of course, the Crocodile! What trip to Crocodile Park would be complete without bouncing in the Crocodile??
Just before heading to bed, I heard some noise in the distance, and stepped out onto the porch to find a pretty big fireworks display a few miles away. My view was partially blocked by another apartment building, but it was neat to watch.
For a few seconds, watching fireworks with a cool breeze on my face, I almost forgot we were halfway around the world.
What makes you feel at home? Leave a comment…
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About Christine
I am a writer, a project manager, and a corporate refugee with a heart for orphans around the world. My two daughters were adopted from Ukraine at ages 12 and 14. I post about writing, chasing dreams, and making a difference in the world, and sometimes I share fun snippets of fiction in-progress.