Today I was driving down the highway with my sisters and nephews when my sister Erin yelled at the top of her lungs. What exactly she said I don't know. I thought that I was going to hit something because so far on our trip I almost hit a dog and a big blue truck. Well it turned out she was screaming with glee because she saw a Giant Stride at the Grover Community Park. For those of you not familiar with a Giant Stride I will try to explain it to you. Basically it is a giant metal post set in cement. At the top of the pole is a gear of some sort. Attached to the gear are several chains with handles at the bottom. You hold on to the handles, making "giant strides" and you fly in the air. It is the most awesome playground toy ever invented. It is also one of the most dangerous. When I was in 4th grade, Barbara Carter, our neighbor, broke her leg on the one we had a school. The next year when we came back to school it was gone. Goldy ( the best flyer) was missed and has been the topic of many a conversation since. So we go back to my mom's and load up the kids to go to the park for Taco Time and Giant Stride. Rule One on the Giant Stride: DO NOT LET GO OF THE HANDLE UNTIL EVERYONE HAS STOPPED. The handle will knock one of the other riders in the head and it hurts very very badly.
Rule Two: DO NOT HOLD ON TO JUST THE TOP HANDLE. As my sister Jennie can tell you from experience the bottom of the handle will fly up and hit you in the head. That's all there is to it. Hold on and have the time of your life!
the aftermath of Rule One being broken
