End of an Era

How do you leave a job you've worked at for seven years? Not easily, that's for sure.

I've had the pleasure of working at Fantasy Island Amusement Park for the past seven summers. Combined, I've logged over 3000 hours there, clocked in for 21 months, run 19 different rides, learned to speak Czech, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Chinese, and Slovakian, and worked with people from the ages of 16 to 87. It's not simply a job for me anymore - it's a summer routine. As my time nears to depart for LA, my time at FIAP is at an end (tomorrow being my last day).

I've had some fond memories at the park - times that I'll never forget. Sure, there were those days where I didn't want to strap anymore kids into rides, days where I was so tired I could have fallen asleep or told an angry customer to kiss my ass, but those days were few and far between.

Aside from the memories, I'll take away the relationships that I built there. Every summer we welcome new employees as we watch others go, but Fantasy Island is really a second family for me. My coworkers are my wall, people I can talk to, listen to, confide in. I love them all very much. To add to the difficulty of leaving, I've been lucky enough to work with international students every summer. Fantasy Island has a wonderful program where students from around the world come to Long Beach Island and work with us for the entire summer. Each one of these people is amazing and unique - hailing from the Czech Republic, China, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Slovakia, Brazil. They are so warm and inviting, opening up to us so quickly, wanting to learn our culture and be part of it - but every year I must leave them, hoping they will return next year, fortunately sometimes they do and unfortunately, sometimes they don't.

Aside from the international students, we have our regular American crew. Many of which rotate in and out at a steady pace, but there are those who have been there since I first walked onto the bricks of the park. Kevin was the first person I met, followed by Dave, then Melanie. I could name them all - they're part of my family. Letting go of them will be the hardest part. I've seen these people everyday for the last seven summers of my life - almost the entirety of my working years. The summer of 2011 is a year away, but I know it'll feel empty, like there is a void and working the rides on the Santa Monica Pier will not make up for the piece of me behind at Fantasy Island.

Unfortunately, this summer, it is my time to leave and not return. I've grown comfortable at FIAP. I know my way around the park, I know the smells, the sounds, the lights, the rides. It's a second home for me in the summer, inhabited by people I love and care for extremely. I don't feel safe leaving them nor do I want to. My coworkers know when something is wrong - I won't even say anything and they approach me asking. This is something special that I hope I can always have at any future jobs I may have. This is the end of an era. I hope I'll be back one day, if not to work, to visit and enjoy the company of those I care for. Maybe someday I can bring my family back (cliche - this one's for you Kev).

Thanks for a wonderful seven years, all the memories, laughter, and fun times.
-Drew