We left the cement beach on Third Street for the real beach in Coney Island. My true reason for the expedition was to lay eyes on the brand new Stillwell Avenue subway station with its 75,000-square-foot glass canopy, made up of 2,730 solar-energy panels,over eight tracks and four platforms, all completely rebuilt.

It did not disappoint. That is one gorgeous train station worth every penny of its $300 million renovation. A truly majestic gateway to Coney Island, it is a wonderful example of urban improvement! Kudos to the MTA.

The kids were vaguely interested in the train station. But their real raison d’etre was to check out the rides. They wanted to play in the sand, too, of course. But for them this trip was about: RIDES.

I wasn’ really planning to go on the Wonder Wheel. A self-avowed scaredy cat when it comes to heights and claustrophobic spaces, I was initially content to let my daughter, son, and their two friends do it on their own. But my dear friend Rose, who lives out in Coney Island (and joined us on the boardwalk) egged me on. "You are going to love it. Really. There is nothing to be afraid of," she said. "Besides, it’s a great view."

Rose and I waited together on the long line. "Do you want a swinging car or a stationery one?" She asked. The swinging one is better,"  she said with a mischevous smile on her face.

"Swinging car?" I asked incredlously.

I agreed convinced that somehow this whole experience was going to be good for me. Recently I overcame a life-long fear of flying with meditation and deep breathing. I figured, I’m probably ready for the Wonder Wheel. If not now, when? 

After 9/11, I developed a subway phobia that had me taking expensive car service rides into the city. I seem to be over that too. I take the subway now without obscessing about suicide bombers and dark subway tunnels.

As Rose and I waited on line, I tried some meditation breathing and prepped myself for what I knew was going to scare the wits out of me. "Well if we go down, we go down together," I said to Rose, who has been working for our family for nearly 14 years, since my teenage son was 3-months old. Rose has the most beautiful smile on earth and a personality that can only be described as beatific.

Nothing really prepares you for the Wonder Wheel. First of all, there’s the view. While it was a little hard for me to appreciate it even on what must’ve been one of the most gorgeous clear blue sky days of the year, I did manage to look when my eyes weren’t closed, bracing for whatever was coming next…

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

Periodically the Wonder Wheel impersonates a roller coaster. On creaky tracks you are sent flying into the air. And then propelled
forward and downward.

The ride stops every minute or so to let passengers on and off on the bottom. That’s the part I found most difficult. You’re just sort of hanging out high up in the sky, waiting for the ferris wheel to start moving again.

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"This is really good for me," I told Rose. But inwardly I was sure we were going to fall to the ground. I could actually visualize the newspaper headlines. But I tried to look brave. "It’s important to overcome what frightens you. To have courage…"

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Rose seemed non-plussed by the whole experience. She casually made remarks about familiar buildings, other rides. "It’s such a nice view," she said from time to time, seeming to truly enjoy herself.

"You really like this?" I asked Rose more than once. "Yes, I do. I really do." she said.

It was really inspiring to be with someone so brave.