The Septuagenarian Prince
March 2015, Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi: I can feel the slow, familiar rise of adrenaline coursing through my body, seated on the front row of the world’s fastest roller coaster, Formula Rossa. Buckled in and pumped about experiencing more g-force than astronauts do during a space shuttle takeoff, I look over at my co-rider. “Pa, when was your last time on a roller coaster?” My father nonchalantly shrugs and shakes his head. “What?! You’ve never been on a roller coaster before?” A lurch at the pit of my stomach that has nothing to do with the imminent ride makes me realize how particularly ill-timed my question was. How utterly irresponsible of me to allow my theme-park novice dad, well past sixty, to ride one of the craziest coasters ever built! I stare at the tracks in front of us, swallowing the nervous lump in my throat as the countdown to launch begins. My self-reproach is quickly taken over by a feeling of being in charge. “Keep your eyes open throughout. If you feel giddy, focus o