Where is Paradise

‘Paradise’


What is it and where is it to you?
Have you given much thought to that question? For most people the answer is, probably no.
Frankly, nor have I but I would love to know what vision comes to mind for you when you see or hear the word paradise.
Paradise can mean many things to any individual. It came to mind for me when a friend said he was going to paradise. Before they mentioned a specific place, my mind was flooded with images of many places with palm trees, white sandy beaches and blue water. Try asking someone “what or where paradise is to them”. After you get over the strange look they will surely give you, you may be fascinated or at least amused by the answer.
Many people may think of utopia when they hear the word “paradise,” but I rule that out because the definition of utopia suggests being in a trance or an unreachable place where no one really lives, whereas paradise seems to be tangible for most people. The most common definition of paradise is ’a place, situation, or condition in which somebody finds perfect happiness’.
From my earliest memory of being aware and having some understanding of the word “paradise,” it represented a far off place I would probably never get to see firsthand. However, I was able to go there anytime I wanted, in my mind’s eye. As a child, I did not call it paradise; I called it daydreaming. At the age of seven or eight, one of my typical trips to paradise was getting into our family car (a 1955 Chevy), sliding behind the steeling wheel and pretending to drive off. Now do not get me wrong, I was not contemplating stealing the car, it was just a past time that many of us did back then. Baby boomers like me did not have video games and such at that time and programs that we would want to witch on television were very limited. Another major fact was if the weather did not interfere, we simply wanted to be outside almost all the time.
At that age in our family, we did not wander off through the neighborhood. In fact, when we were outside, if our parents looked out the window, we had better be within their view and that is all I will say about that. I would go out to the car and make my escape to my paradise frequently. As I recall, I had two versions of paradise at that time. One was what I would often see on television where I envisioned driving though a place lined with palm trees, sandy beaches and crystal clear waters always close at hand. People were always happy, it never rained and of course, there was no need for jobs.
In the other version, I would reach a place where people strolled on boardwalks, enjoy some of the best amusement rides on the East Coast overlooking a beach and not so clear water, while the intoxicating smell of popcorn, peanuts and hotdogs filled the air. The latter did have a name, Wild Wood, New Jersey. In my childhood, our big summer vacation was a trip to Wildwood to spend the day. A day we anxiously awaited from the first day of spring. As I moved into young adulthood and started venturing out on my own, my concept of paradise changed. The make believe trips in that parked car were replaced with real trips to a summer favorite, visiting Willow Grove Park, a amusement park outside of Philadelphia, a couple of times a year. In its heyday, it was one of the best parks in the entire country.
Over the years, as I grew in age, wisdom and finances, my idea of paradise morphed drastically. Paradise became picnicking in Valley Forge Park, Pa., trips to New Jersey’s boardwalks with its piers (amusements) including The Steel Pier, where you could see horses actually diving off diving boards into the water below, and trips to Six Flags in New Jersey. Later Paradise became Virginia Beach, Bush Gardens in Williamsburg Va. and Disney World. Over time, I had the good fortunate and opportunity to visit most of the states in our country. Surely, I found the real paradise on the beaches of Florida and visits to our country’s West Coast soon gave me more options on what paradise may be. Finally, as my sphere extended beyond our countries borders, the new visions of paradise leave me speechless at times.
All that I have spoken about so far speaks to where paradise may be located, at least, to me. In closing, I would like to speak on what paradise may feel like. The times you are with your loved ones, they are reasonably happy with their lives, and you are all truly happy to be together. Could that be the real “paradise” no matter where you are?

Ty Ferrell Sr.