The Wheel of Mortality and the Bumper Cars Of Life.

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Temple Emmanuel, the synagogue I grew up in, had a picnic every year at the nearby Clementon Lake Park. The Park opened in 1928, just in time for the great depression to fossilize it as a relic Hoover era entertainment culture. It always seemed to need a coat of paint. It's been in the news lately for being saved from the bulldozer by an eccentric investor. But I remember if for one thing: not its wooden framed roller coaster, or the lake in the center with paddle wheel cars, nor its hot dogs and cotton candy, but for every boy's first memory of the freedom of the road.

The bumper cars.

Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild" is probably about a measuring up to a white "YOU MUST BE THIS TALL" line on the wall at the bumper car pavilion somewhere, everywhere, at amusement locations throughout these fruited plains. I grew 10 inches in my sophomore year of high school. As a result, year after year, I did not "measure up" to the required height to drive a bumper car solo. When I did, oh yes, I had arrived. Pedal to the metal, watch out for me! That is what I remember at Clementon Park.


Today, one of my friends noted wistfully how the years are flying by since so many of our friends are using mobility scooters at this year’s Messiah Conference.  I said to him “if you see me in one of those wheely-scooters at the conference, do me a favor, just shoot me and dump me off the covered bridge”.   Not throwing shade in your direction if you’re using one. I had 22,000 hilly steps one muggy conference day, I get it, I feel you (you lazy post-modern slug)

  

But now, I've found a mobility scooter that I really DO want:  A Philadelphia area custom car builder dropped a bumper-car body onto his dad’s mobility scooter and took it to the National Sports Car Club of America convention. It was a major hit. This is where the open road began for every one of those sports car enthusiasts. They ate it up.


I want one, but only as long as at least half a dozen of my friends get one too.     See you later?   Not if I see you first!  Meet me in the parking lot.   Oh, it’s on, baby!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5VPbiR3kYs&t=2s

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