Caleb Reid

Professor Halbert

EN 101

19 September 2019

Kalahari Waterpark Resort Trip Memoir

As Brad Pitt once said, “I have a handful of close friends and I have my family and I have

not known life to be any happier”. This is exactly what I, Caleb Emmanuel Reid, found to be true

at the Kalahari Waterpark Resort. This is a family annual tradition where we have an amazing

time, filled with the indoor waterpark and outdoor waterpark. I would say each and every year is

a new experience filled with sensations and emotions which no other resort can ever match.

The first year I remember going to the Kalahari Waterpark Resort was in 2008. When I

was seven, I would say things like, “Wow” and “Mom, I’m scared” when the wind would hit my

face and the drops put chills down my spine. My mom, being the comforting mother she is, said

“Everything will be good.”, “Good job, you did it.”, “Yaaayyyy!!!” My family and I loved the

sensation of splashing water on the slides and seeing smiles across our faces. Even Though I do

not remember a lot, I do remember that my relationship with my parents blossomed a ton in this

experience. I quickly found out that the Kalahari Waterpark Resort was the best place I could be

just like my mom’s feeling holding my baby sister, Raven, on the lazy river.

Fast-forward five years from now (2012), we are going to the Kalahari Resort with a new

sense of urge and courage which came with age. Even with this new sense of courage, I still

stayed with my mom a little bit but my sister and I ventured out and rode some more “thrill-

seeking” rides. Also, my mom was pushing us to do a lot of rides which in turn gave what I like
to call it “my dare-devil mindset.” I remember distinctly my mom saying with a voice of

encouragement,

“You should really go on this ride,” she smiled and gave me a pat on my back which

actually hurt. I replied with,

“I don’t know Mom, this ride looks pretty scary.” I had a puzzled look on my face while

my heart was pounding fast. My mom said with a concerned demeanor,

“I think you should really go on it, come on Caleb I will ride with you.”With continuous

battling of going on the ride or not, I decided to go with my mom’s persuasive words.

My heart was pounding extremely fast with every walk on these wet steps. I took a lot of caution

going up each and every step not only because it is wet, but also trying to come up with any

excuse possible to get me off before it is too late. Sure enough, it was too late! I stared at the ride

with a furious look at the “Master Blaster.” The name definitely suits the water slide as the blasts

were a lot to handle. I remember screaming through the multiple drops and turns when my mouth

wasn’t filled with water (When I was young, I usually kept my mouth open with shock at the

slides). My mom was having total enjoyment as I did not enjoy the ride one bit my first time.

With consecutive rides on the “Master Blaster,” I started to become unafraid. Consequently, I

began to enjoy the ride and thus, deemed it to be my favorite ride. Over time through many rides

and trying to incorporate Raven, my sister and I agreed to go on a more thrill-seeking ride

together (A rush flowed through my body knowing my sister will be incorporated in more “fun”

rides).

Six years later (2018), my family and I went on a trip that we did not see coming, our last

family trip to Kalahari Waterpark Resort. My family and I were filled with excitement and

sadness with every attraction we did on this trip. The roles in my family switched dramatically as
our last experience surfaced from the water. I now with a sense of urgency pushed my sister to

go on the ride I once hated, The “Master Blaster.” My sister with more ambition than myself

initially said,

“UUUhhhh, I don’t know, Caleb.” While we were walking to the ride. I replied to

encourage my sister,

“Raven, you got this. It is not as bad as what everyone says. The ride will be fun, I

promise. Okay, Raven?”

“Okay, Caleb, I’ll do it.”I was surprised how easy it was to convince my sister to go on

this fast ride, knowing myself was so stubborn in deciding to ride this waterslide. With a

very puzzled face, I said,

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah, I’m ready to ride the Master Blaster.” Meanwhile, my mom was sitting down,

guarding all of our belongings, while we went up the rollercoaster. Six years ago, I would never

have thought this would happen. I started to realize my mom’s interaction with us lowers with

the sense of us gaining independence. Back to the present dialogue, I said,

“I can’t wait for this, it is going to be so much fun!”

“Same Caleb, this ride looks pretty cool and looonnnnnggggg…….” She slowly turns her

attention from me to the lengthy waterslide in front of us and a big gulp came from her throat.

We got into the slide and I start feeling on the top of the world. I achieved one of my objectives

which was to get my sister to ride a “thrill” ride. I can hear her heartbeat pounding faster than

when I went the first time. We went on and little did I know. This was the last slide we will ride

at this Resort, my heart dropped at the thought of the fun memories going away.
 Man, thinking that I once was a very naive, quiet boy to becoming a boy at the “top of the

world” was a journey of ups and downs. The downs were being frightened multiple times for my

life at a young age, but the ups outweigh the downs as I had tons of fun after overcoming this

fear of waterslides. This trip meant not only a wonderful break/vacation at the one of a kind

Resort, but a great time with my family members. This trip also resembled the “work hard, play

hard” motto as this was playing hard after working hard in school. Overcoming the fear of

waterslides, building up courage and independence, and improving our family relationship has

been the backbone to the enjoyment of the Resort. These series of trips for what it meant and

resembled will never be forgotten!

Raven said, “That was really fun” and with that, the trip ended on a happy yet somber

note as I waved Kalahari Waterpark Resort, Goodbye forever!!!