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It's my birthday, time to shine,
Light the candles, don't you whine.
Bring the laughs and bring the cheer,
Let's make magic every year!

We all blinked.

Mia clapped slowly. "Wow. That... that was something."

Jasmine laughed. "Is there a second verse?"

"Oh, there's four," Lily said proudly, taking a deep breath.

We all scrambled to cover our ears.

"No, no, please, we believe you!" I said, holding up my hands in surrender.

Lily giggled and jumped off the bench, twirling in her glittery birthday shirt. "I'm ten now. Double digits. That means I'm basically in charge."

"You've always thought you were in charge," Sam muttered.

She ignored him and looked at me with big, excited eyes. "Do we still get to go to Valleyfair? You said we could go on my birthday, remember?"

Before I could answer, she was already running for the house again, shouting:

"MOM! CAN WE GO NOW? I'M TEN AND READY FOR ROLLERCOASTERS!"

Mia turned to me. "So, that's happening."

I just shook my head and smiled. "You've never seen chaos until you take Lily to an amusement park."

The car was full.

Of snacks. Of noise. Of pure birthday energy.

Lily was bouncing in her booster seat like she'd had a triple-shot espresso, wearing a glittery "Birthday Girl" headband and sunglasses that were way too big for her face.

We weren't even halfway to Valleyfair when she launched into her original masterpiece—again.

It's my birthday, time to shine,
Light the candles, don't you whine.
Bring the laughs and bring the cheer,
Let's make magic every year!

Sam groaned dramatically in the seat next to her. "This is the fifth time."

"Fifth today," Jasmine corrected from the back. "It was at least three times last night."

Lily didn't care.

She turned up the volume on herself and dove into verse two:

I'm the queen of birthday fun,
Double digits, here I come!
Rollercoasters, treats, and flair,
All the joy, I'll take my share!

Mia was trying to stifle a laugh. "Okay, that one kind of slapped."

"Stop encouraging her," Sam muttered.

Mom looked at me in the rearview mirror with a smile that said I love this child but please help me.

I shrugged. "You're the one who gave her cake for breakfast."

Without missing a beat, Lily sang verse three:

Sing it loud, sing it proud,
I'm the birthday girl in this crowd!
Turn it up, let's make it loud,
Dancing goofy, mom's not proud!

"Accurate," Mom said under her breath.

"Hey!" Lily shouted, then giggled.

And then—yes—verse four:

Ten today, I own the day,
Make some room, get out my way!
Friends and fam, come join the ride,
We're going big, no need to hide!

When she finally stopped to take a breath, the whole car just sat in stunned silence.

Sam whispered, "I think I have a headache."

Jasmine clapped slowly. "Honestly? Album when?"

Lily took a bow from her seat. "Thank you. That was just my warm-up."

I leaned back in my seat, watching the road ahead, Valleyfair getting closer with every mile.

This was going to be a very Lily kind of day.

We finally made it to Valleyfair.

From the parking lot, I could already see the tops of rollercoasters twisting into the sky, colorful rides spinning, and people screaming like they were both thrilled and maybe regretting their life choices.

Lily was practically vibrating in her seat.

"I see it! I see it! That ride goes upside down! That one does two flips!" she shouted, pointing at every visible death trap with way too much excitement.

Meanwhile, I was just wondering if I'd survive the walk from the car to the entrance.

First, we waited in line to park the car.

Then we waited in line to buy tickets.

Then we waited in line to have those tickets scanned.

By the time we finally stepped through the gates, I was sweating, winded, and already regretting not packing an extra bottle of water.

"Honestly," I muttered, leaning against a bench near the entrance, "I feel like I've already been on a ride. And all I did was stand."

Mia patted my shoulder. "We're gonna be in line all day, huh?"

Jasmine looked around and nodded. "Yup. Ride #1: The Queue. Ride #2: Heatstroke."

Sam walked past us carrying the map upside down. "Ride #3: Bathroom panic."

Lily, completely unbothered, was already marching ahead with her foam sword like she was leading a birthday army.

"Let's goooo!" she shouted. "We have SO MANY rides to do!"

I groaned. "We're gonna need so many breaks."

Mom smiled as she caught up beside me. "We'll pace it out. You do what you can, and we'll take it slow, okay?"

"Slow at Valleyfair?" I said. "That's gonna be its own ride."

The first ride they picked?

Steel Venom.

Of course.

A launch coaster that shoots you forward at 68 miles per hour, hurls you straight up into the sky, then drops you backwards like it forgot which way gravity works.

Jasmine practically sprinted toward the entrance with Mia right behind her, yelling something about "starting with chaos."

Sam hesitated just long enough to say, "Wish me luck," then bolted after them like he hadn't just read the words 'intense vertical tower.'

Lily ran to follow... and then stopped at the measuring sign.

Her shoulders sagged.

"Noooo!"

Mom caught up and placed a gentle hand on her head as she stood under the little red bar marked 52 inches.

Lily's hair just barely brushed it. Maybe. If the wind was feeling generous.

"Sorry, Lil," Mom said softly. "You're this close."

"But it's my birthday," she pouted, turning to me with big eyes like I could somehow change physics for her.

"I don't make the rules," I said, holding up my hands. "If I did, we'd all be riding around on churros."

She groaned and flopped dramatically onto the fence like she was mourning her rollercoaster dreams.

Jasmine turned back from the front of the line and shouted, "We'll be quick! Don't let her start a rebellion!"

Lily crossed her arms. "Too late."

As the others took off toward the loading platform, Mom and I found a shaded bench nearby. Lily sat beside me, clearly plotting the next ride and how to sneak in an extra inch before next summer.

Meanwhile, I leaned back, watching the Steel Venom rocket into the sky and drop like a nightmare.

The screams echoed all around us.

Lily looked up at me.

"Okay, maybe I wasn't ready anyway."

As soon as the rest of the group came stumbling off Steel Venom—faces windblown, legs wobbly, and Jasmine laughing like a maniac—Lily shot up like she'd been launched herself.

"I want a ride! One I can actually go on!"

Mom pulled out the map. "Looks like the next one nearby is Delirious."

Lily squinted at the giant, spinning ring ahead. "Ooooh! That one looks fun!"

Sam looked at it, then at her. "You know it goes upside down, right?"

"I'm ten now," she said matter-of-factly, like that gave her immunity from gravity.

We made our way over and stopped at the height sign.

Lily marched up to it like she was taking a test she'd studied for all week.

Mom checked.

She made it.

Barely. But this time, barely was enough.

Lily threw her arms in the air. "YES! I'm in! I'm valid! Let's gooo!"

Mia laughed. "That's one way to put it."

"I'm staying right here," I said, settling on a bench. "That thing looks like a salad spinner with trust issues."

"I'm riding," Sam said reluctantly. "But I'm not happy about it."

As they joined the line, I leaned back with Mom, watching as Lily practically bounced in place while they inched closer to the ride.

"She's going to love it," Mom said.

"She's going to scream like she's being chased by bees," I replied.

Five minutes later, they were strapped in, the ring started spinning, and then...

The screaming began.

Some of it was joy.
Some of it, I'm pretty sure, was Sam.
But the loudest?

Lily.

Laughing. Yelling. "WHEEEEEE-ing" like she was on top of the world.

And upside down.

And spinning.

And probably regretting some choices.

When they stumbled back to the exit, her hair was sticking out in three directions, and her eyes were wide.

"How was it?" I asked.

She blinked.

Then shouted, "AGAIN!"

The rides just kept on coming.

Wild Thing. Renegade. Xtreme Swing.
Each one faster, louder, twistier than the last.
And Lily? She was thriving.

"Again!" she yelled after almost every ride. "Let's do that again!"

Meanwhile...

I spent a decent amount of time on the Minnesota River Valley Railroad.

More than once.

Okay... three times.

It was slow, peaceful, and didn't flip me upside down or send me home with a pulled back muscle. I sat by the window and let the breeze hit my face while the others took on another coaster, the train circling through shady trees and old-timey scenery that felt like a break from reality.

I waved to them once when the train passed the edge of the Wild Thing. Jasmine waved back. Sam looked like he was rethinking every choice that had led him to that moment.

It wasn't bad.

Not at all.

But a part of me still sat quietly in the background of my thoughts—watching them laugh, scream, and stumble off rides with adrenaline still buzzing in their veins—and I couldn't help but feel a little tug of longing.

I missed that feeling.
That thrill. That fear. That wild, heart-in-your-throat rush of being part of the chaos.

I watched them climb onto Renegade from a bench nearby and rested my hands over my stomach.

I smiled. Just a little.

Someday, maybe.

But for now... the train would have to do.

After Renegade, everyone came off looking like they'd been through a wind tunnel and a blender at the same time.

Lily was grinning. Sam looked traumatized. Jasmine had her arms in the air like she'd just won an Olympic event.

"I think that one broke my soul," Sam mumbled.

Jasmine slapped him on the back. "Then you're officially initiated."

"Okay," Mia said, panting, "I vote water park."

Lily gasped. "Soak City! I forgot about Soak City!"

We all turned to look—just across the way, near the trees, stood the entrance to the water park. Waterslides towered over us like colorful plastic snakes, and kids were running around dripping wet, screaming and laughing.

"Yes," I said immediately. "Yes. Take me to the land of shade and chlorine."

We made our way in and found a spot to drop our towels and bags. The others took off toward the big slides—Breakers Plunge, Raging Rapids, Panic Falls—each one sounding like something you'd name a disaster movie.

I didn't even pretend to go with them.

I turned left and headed straight to my paradise:

The Lazy River aka Ripple Rapids

No drops. No flips. No screaming.

Just slow drifting, warm sun, and the occasional dad in sunglasses yelling "Marco!" to a kid who was clearly not paying attention.

I lowered myself into a tube, leaned back, and let the current do the work.

It was peaceful. Almost meditative.

Somewhere off in the distance I could hear Lily shriek, "THIS ONE'S EVEN FASTER!"

Followed by Sam yelling, "WHY IS THERE A WALL? WHY IS THERE A WALL?!"

I smiled and closed my eyes, letting the water carry me forward.

This was exactly what I needed.

A few minutes into my second lap around the lazy river, I heard the soft splash of someone easing into the water behind me.

I opened one eye.

Mom.

She climbed into a tube and floated up beside me, sunglasses on, her hair pulled back under a sunhat that screamed "I'm trying not to get sunburned, please respect that."

"Hey there," she said, nudging my tube gently with hers.

"Couldn't stay away from the good ride, huh?" I said with a grin.

She laughed. "Honestly? After chasing Lily for half the day, this might be the best seat in the park."

We floated in silence for a minute, the sound of kids laughing and splashing echoing in the distance. I let my fingers trail through the water, cool and calming.

Then Mom glanced over. "How are you holding up?"

I shrugged. "Tired. Sore. Jealous of Lily's energy. But good."

She smiled at that. "You've been doing amazing, you know. With all of it."

I didn't answer right away. I stared up at the sky, watching a seagull glide overhead.

"It's weird," I said quietly. "I feel okay today. Like... I'm finally starting to feel normal again. Or at least my new normal."

Mom nodded gently. "You don't have to rush anything. Healing doesn't follow a schedule. And neither does life."

I gave a small smile. "Yeah, well, life sure didn't ask for permission when it flipped upside down."

She nudged my tube again. "No. But you stayed in the boat anyway."

I looked at her.

She was smiling softly, like she meant every word.

"You're stronger than you think," she said. "And when the baby comes, they're going to know how lucky they are to have you."

My throat tightened a little. I looked back at the water.

"Thanks," I whispered.

We drifted in silence for another few minutes—just me, her, the water, and the slow, gentle current carrying us forward.

After a while, the splashes got fewer and the energy started to dip.

Lily trudged over to where Mom and I were drying off with towels, her birthday headband now slightly askew, foam sword tucked under one arm like it had survived a war.

"I'm bored," she announced.

Right behind her came Sam, equally soggy and dragging his flip-flops like they personally offended him.
"Same."

Jasmine and Mia showed up last, dripping wet and half-laughing, but I could tell they were ready for a change of pace too.

Jasmine wrung out her braid. "We've officially soaked. I think we're done soaking."

"Can we go on some thrill rides again?" Lily asked, bouncing a little despite the wet squish in her shoes.

I groaned under my breath.

Oh joy.
The Ride of Sitting on the Bench — Part II: The Sequel No One Asked For.

Mom looked over at me with a sympathetic smile. "Want to come with us to walk around a bit?"

"Only if the walking ends at churros," I said.

"Deal," said Mia. "Snacks first. Then chaos."

"Chaos is my favorite," Lily added proudly, twirling her foam sword like she was heading into battle.

I handed Mom my towel and slipped my flip-flops back on. "Fine. Let the bench tour continue."

We finally got our churros.

And for a brief, shining moment, everything was perfect.

Warm, cinnamon-sugary goodness. A place to sit. No screaming. No flipping. No sprinting through crowds. Just peaceful, crispy bliss.

That lasted about four bites.

Then Lily turned, churro still in hand, and pointed straight up into the sky.

"I wanna go on that."

We all followed her gaze.

Red tower.
Blue tower.
So tall I had to lean back just to see the top without falling over.

Power Tower.

Of course.

Sam nearly choked. "You want to go on that? Why don't we just get launched into space and be done with it?"

"That's the goal," Lily said proudly.

Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know what that does?"

"It goes up!" Lily said. "And down! Fast!"

Mia leaned over to me. "So... funeral arrangements, or...?"

I sighed, wiping my hands on a napkin. "I'm not even gonna pretend to supervise this one. I'll be on the bench. Thinking about churros."

Mom gave me a quick pat on the shoulder. "We'll take her. You just rest."

I nodded. "Good. Because if I even look at that thing too long, the baby's gonna file a complaint."

"Which one do you want to go on first, Lily?" I asked, shading my eyes as I looked up at the towering ride.

She didn't even flinch.

"Red one! It looks taller."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Red means awesome," she said proudly, tightening the strap on her foam sword like she was about to duel gravity.

I glanced at Jasmine and Mia. Neither said a word.
Smart.

I held back a grin. "Well then... have fun."

"Are you coming?" Lily asked.

"Uh, no. Someone's gotta guard the churros."

Lily rolled her eyes and turned toward the line, practically bouncing with excitement.

The rest followed behind her, quiet. Too quiet.

I sat down on a nearby bench and watched them slowly inch toward the loading platform. The red tower loomed above them—innocent enough from below, like it wasn't about to sucker-punch her soul with 275 feet of slow suspense.

They got strapped in. The ride hissed.

And then...

Up they went.

Slowly.

Real slow.

Lily was waving at first. Laughing.

Then her arms went down.

Then she froze.

And then...wait for it—
DROP.
Instant chaos.

From my bench, I could hear it.

A high-pitched scream that definitely belonged to one ten-year-old birthday girl.

When they walked back over, Lily's hair was sticking out in wild directions and she looked like she had just seen the void.

"That. Was. AWESOME," she gasped, clutching her foam sword like it had protected her.

"You okay?" I asked, trying not to laugh.

She nodded, eyes wide. "I didn't know it was gonna do that."

Jasmine gave her a thumbs up. "Now you do."

Lily paused. Looked back at the tower.

"Let's do the blue one next."

While the others darted off to ride the blue tower, I decided I needed something calmer—something that didn't involve being launched, flipped, or dropped without warning.

So I found the Ferris Wheel.

It moved slow, didn't flip me upside down, and came with a view instead of a safety harness that felt like a dare. Exactly what I needed.

As I sat in the gently rocking gondola, rising higher into the sky, I could see the whole park from up there. Rides twisting like tangled spaghetti, crowds moving like ants, and tiny dots of people screaming their heads off on machines that looked more dangerous from above than they ever did from the ground.

I exhaled slowly, letting the breeze hit my face.

For a moment, it was just... quiet.

When I got off, I stretched, feeling way more refreshed than I had after any bench-sitting session.

That lasted about five seconds.

Because right in front of me was Lily—mid-spin, mid-scream, on a ride that looked like it had crawled straight out of a comic book villain's lair.

The Monster.

A giant black and green beast with arms whipping around like spider legs—or octopus tentacles, depending on your angle—and Lily was spinning in a cart at the end of one, waving her arms like she was casting a spell.

"What... is that?" I asked out loud to absolutely no one.

Mom appeared next to me with a soda in hand. "That's The Monster."

"Of course it is," I said. "Because it definitely doesn't look like it's trying to eat people."

Lily shrieked with delight as the cart spun full-circle again.

"I'm gonna be sick!" Sam's voice came from somewhere on the other side.

I smiled and shook my head.

"She's ten for real now," I said.

Mom laughed. "She never wasn't."

As the sun dipped low and the loudspeakers announced that the park would be closing soon, we gathered near the front gate for one last ride.

"Carousel?" Mom suggested, already leading the way.

Lily looked like she was about to object—something about needing "one more loop-de-loop"—but even she was slowing down now. Her glittery headband was crooked, her foam sword drooping in her grip like it had fought its final battle.

When we reached the ride, it was glowing gently under the soft evening lights. Music played, old-fashioned and cheerful, echoing like a lullaby for the day.

I smiled as we approached.

"You know," I said casually, "this thing's been around for a long time."

Jasmine leaned over. "Like, how long?"

"It was built in 1925," I said, patting the side of a painted horse as we passed. "That means it's... what, 117 years old now?"

Sam blinked. "Wait, seriously? It's older than Grandpa."

"It was originally at the Excelsior Amusement Park on Lake Minnetonka," I added, climbing onto one of the bench seats instead of a horse. "They moved it here after that park shut down."

Mia let out a low whistle. "That horse I'm sitting on has seen things."

We all found our spots—Mom and Lily on a pair of shiny white horses, their manes painted with gold and pink trim.
Sam tried to look cool on a jet-black stallion, arms crossed like this was some kind of majestic slow-motion action movie.
Jasmine and Mia were doubled over laughing, not because their horses were unusual... just because Mia accidentally picked the smallest one on the ride and now couldn't stop sliding off it.

The ride started slowly, the music drifting through the evening air.

As the carousel turned, I looked around at all of them—tired, happy, full of sugar and adrenaline and memories.

I rested my hands on my stomach, feeling the gentle rise and fall of the ride beneath me.

If I ever brought my kid here someday, I'd tell them this story.
About the day we conquered rollercoasters.
Screamed ourselves silly.
Ate too many churros.
And rode a 117-year-old carousel like it was the most magical thing in the world.

Because honestly?

It kind of was.