I Hope This Doesn't Bode Well For Coney Island's Summer Season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Traditions, darlings, are being broken all over the place.  It used to be that the Easter weekend was the time when Coney Island began operating only on the weekends.  Then came Memorial Day, which is when it ran full time till Labor Day.

                                   Well, the powers that be decided to open things up a bit on Palm Sunday weekend.  On March 29, which was Palm Sunday, a group of eager riders, some who do this annually, took the first ride of the season on the Cyclone, the landmark roller coaster of Coney, shortly before noon.  They had just kicked off with a christening, by shattering an egg cream bottle against the ride.

                                    Patrons took their seats, and the ride began.  Everyone was thrilled and excited.  But, just ass the ride reached almost the first drop, the ride came to a dead stop.  The travelers were stuck, and had to walk down, one by one, almost eighty feet, with guards helping them.

                                      This is one reason I will never ride a roller coaster. The other is my  mother, who went on this very ride, back in the 1930s. She went on with two friends--she was in the middle--and by the time the ride came to a halt, they discovered, at some point, she had fainted.  She had to be carried off.

                                       May this be the Cyclone's only glitch this Summer. It is a beautiful ride, and I love watching it in motion, and hearing the people scream in delight.

                                         With my feet firmly planted on the ground!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!