Maturity takes a swim...

One thing I've come to realize is that neither Dan nor myself can be entirely trusted around hot tubs or pools. Sooner or later, I'm going to get throw from one end of the pool to the other. Dan will decide to cannonball into the hot tub to see how much water he can splash out and collect on the floor. We'll set up the camera and self-timer shots of our shenanigans. Then, we happened upon Rapid City, SD...

One of the good things about staying at the Country Inn & Suites is that we rack up Gold Member Points, which can then be used for free nights, instant upgrades to the best rooms, and other various perks. Recently, Dan and I decided to take a few days and go on vacation...using some of our points to stay free nights along the way. One of the Country Inn & Suites we happened to stay at was in Rapid City, SD...and the fantastic rumors that it had a water slide were true. We stayed there both on the way to and from Montana, and on the way THERE, we very quietly and maturely just wandered in and sat in the hot tub and watched all the kids running about and enjoying the slide...pretending to ourselves that we weren't both jonesing for it. But realistically, while most adults would be able to sit aside and take enough joy in watching kids enjoying themselves; Dan and I are not most adults.

On the way BACK, we knew we needed to go down that slide. Screw all the little children who would likely be shoved out of our way as we fulfilled this goal. To hell with all the adults that would look upon us with dismay as their own children had to stand aside for US. No...we were going to enjoy this. Within 15 minutes of checking in, we were in that pool room. With the camera. Excitedly we noticed that there were, in fact, NO children around. There were only 3 couples all in their 50's and 60's sitting about in the hot tubs and in the chairs in the area. So we went for it. Dan began his ascent to the top...as he was going to have a go first and test the whole experience. SPLASH! It was thrilling even to watch...and I immediately went for my first go at it. SPLASH! Wonderful! I scurried over to the hot tub to warm up, and it was then that we noticed a combination of complete disapproval and intrigue on the faces of those also in the pool room. At a time like that, there is nothing like a little peer pressure to get things going. So that's exactly what we did. Before long, the graying man who had been sitting in the hot tub with his wife...her face twisted with obvious concern at our sanity...was flying down the slide as well. His hands were in the air and he let out a "Woo-Hoo" as he flew down into the water over and over again.

This quickly morphed into what can only be described as a complete rediscovery of childhood wonders. Before long, several of us were all flying down the slide...timing it out only long enough so that we didn't hit the other person in front of us. Photos were taken...there were shouts of glee...hands tossed up...new techniques tried out for maximum speed and effect. We went along splendidly for almost 30 minutes...and then...INVADERS. A family showed up...their children all antsy to swim and play on the slide...and just like that, we went back to sitting in the hot tub and "acting our age." BAH!

I like to remember though, that no matter how repressed that lady in the corner may APPEAR, she's probably got her inner 5-year old just clawing at a chance to slide free.