How to Understand the Power Structure

In life, people seldom delegate the fun parts of their job to someone else.

I have to say seldom, because I used to work operating thrill rides at Walt Disney World. Every morning, as part of the extensive safety check regimen the cast members must perform in order to open an attraction for the guests, someone must perform a “ride through.” Often, depending on the attraction, more than one ride through is required in order for every show element to receive its full inspection. Because of this, and the fact that some cast members have physical reasons they cannot ride, or are simply so busy with other parts of their duties that they need help, a cast member can find themselves in the position of being told that—for the good of the park—they must ride the ride.

Usually this is a very good thing.

One morning, however, I was working on the opening crew of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster, a high speed, catapult launched, roller coaster in darkness with multiple inversions. We were short-staffed and behind schedule, so in order for us to get the attraction open on time I had to single-handedly perform four ride throughs back-to-back. Before that, I had never been made queasy by a roller coaster. Since then, that coaster and several others make me feel at least a little “urpy.”

In a real sense, that morning broke me.

I don’t think listening to Love in an Elevator over and over again helped.

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