it’s rollercoaster day!

Posted on April 29, 2009 by t. sterling — 1 Comment

So what’s a rollercoaster day? I’ll tell you.

Have you ever heard people use the term “emotional rollercoaster”? As in: “Lately, Benny has been on an emotional rollercoaster.” It’s just a fun phrase to explain that whatever’s been going on with Benny lately, isn’t exactly normal and has been playing on his emotions. He’s up, down, euphoric, worried, enraged, content, etc. Unless of course, this is how Benny usually is, obviously it’s not if someone is making that statement.

But most people I know are usually one mood or another, or has a range of moods throughout the day that’s consistent. They are not necessarily going through the confusion loop and are speeding down to pure joy, or creeping up to the depression drop. Yeah, it’s kinda odd actually to think about rollercoasters in comparison to emotions. Most people enjoy when the ride goes a thousand miles per hour towards the ground (as long as the ride isn’t broken). And going up? Not as much fun. Anxious, really. For me it is. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of those rides at theme parks. Two to three is my limit. You can ask my stomach why.

So for me, without getting into details, today has been a rollercoaster day. I don’t believe in saying I have bad days, even when everything has gone wrong or is turning evil. If anything, I’d like to say it’s “interesting.” That usually begs for clarification, which is why I had avoided the word “bad” because I didn’t feel like getting asked why. For the sake of argument, I’ve had a couple ups, a couple downs and probably a loop or two thrown in. I know I started the morning feeling a bit on the sick side… so maybe my rollercoaster day is in reverse and everything will slow down to normality as the day grows old.

I believe if you tell people you’re having a rollercoaster day, perhaps they will get the picture. It might throw them off even more if you say it with an excited smile. They really might think you are going on a coaster. Or you might be going somewhere different altogether.

As for me, I know everything will be okay. I’ll be getting off the ride soon and I can get myself together. Eventually I’ll need to escape from myself so I can write about the events and turn it into my next big hit screenplay, or poem… whichever comes first. Or maybe I’ll just watch a movie about people having their own rollercoaster days. Friday could be considered as such. Or maybe Clerks. I don’t own that one though.

To anyone else having a rollercoaster day, or recognize that you are in one, just remember:

The ride has to end sometime.

(Hmm… that metaphor sounds a little deeper and depressed than I intended. How about:)

You’re not on this ride alone.

(Yeah, that sounds better. No sad endings here. This ain’t a Lifetime movie.)