Because my dad was president, I think a lot of my friends in high school assumed I got special treatment at work, which was not true. If you would like to argue otherwise, please consult my closet filled with blue polos.
Hilariously, when I worked in the bigger departments, my coworkers didn’t really know who I was — which was exactly the way I preferred it; I don’t like drawing unnecessary attention.
A few times in my life, it gave me comical perspective.
For example, at some point in 2011 when I was working double duty in Rides and Public Relations, I got into a conversation with a fellow Rides Host at an employee luncheon.
This luncheon was in the picnic grove, where the sounds of Holidog’s FunTown tend to drift over at a not-so-subtle volume.
If you’ve ever spent time in Holidog’s FunTown, you know that the music is about as ’90s-tastic as it can get, with some more recent Kidz Bop-style music sprinkled in. (And don’t forget the Rugrats Movie soundtrack—does it get any better than Spice Girls’ Geri Halliwell singing “These Boots are Made for Walking”?)
Lauren (my sister) and I picked the music out.
When FunTown was built.
In 1999.
Let that sink in.
Dancing like it’s 1999! Which … it was.
Look at this picture. That’s the person who picked the music.
Now, back to this Rides Host. As “MMMBop” started blasting through the sound system (still one of my top 20 songs—don’t judge), the Host commented on how terrible the music was. And how torturous it was to work in FunTown with that music.
… and that he had heard the owner’s children had picked it out.
It must have been five minutes before I responded. I still am not sure I actually said this, but for the sake of preserving the perfect foot-in-mouth situation, let’s say I did.
“Well to be fair, I was eight when my sister and I picked the music out.”
I let him backtrack for a while, but made sure he knew I didn’t take it personally. I wasn’t asked to update it, only pick it. My responsibility finished when I was eight.
I mean, I don’t think everyone can handle the awesomeness that was ’90s pop music. Some people can’t even deal with the boy-band trifecta of the late ’90s: 98 Degrees, *NSYNC, and Backstreet Boys.
For the record, after 15 seasons of fantastic ’90s music, Lauren will be updating the music in Holidog’s FunTown this year.
And as an addendum to that record: I will be fighting to keep “MMMBop.”
I was 18 when I worked in the fun town in 1999. I always liked the music then however in these recent years I had never realized that it hadn’t been updated. On another note……keep MMMbop……LOL
I have very fond memories of hearing a couple of Hanson songs in funtown that I knew had to be chosen by a fan. It made me beyond happy to hear those songs when we visited. Over the years, I always make a point of visiting funtown, despite the kids outgrowing it a long time ago. That era of music brings out the kid in me. Keep Mmmbop.