We called that wonderful concoction a 'Suicide'. We found that the Red Banjo Pizza Parlor in Park City served it, along with wonderful pizza (with a lemon wedge on top), a vintage jukebox and a dark and dreary atmosphere. Growing up, whenever we'd visit Park City we had to eat there at least once; preferably more.

This was before Park City became the popular winter and summer destination for the Hollywood flora and fauna. It was becoming famous as a ski resort though and we thought that the 26$US price for an all day lift ticket was outrageous! When I stopped skiing it was up to 50$US or so and I'm sure it went up from there.

Alas, time changes everything. We visited the Red Banjo Pizza Parlor recently on a vacation to Park City and it was still there! The pizza was fine, but the salad dressing isn't the same (but close) and they no longer serve Suicides. The two kids running the restaurant were ready to go out to play so they closed the place down early, turning away customers. The jukebox now plays CD albums or single tracks and lists many of the more recent titles. It just wasn't quite the same though - the lights were too bright, the waitress too bored.

Whoa!!! Major flashback!!

I never had the Swamp Water, but I can totally relate to the useless rubber stoppers. All my friends were such graceful skaters, and I was the one who stopped by hitting the wall or falling over someone (usually someone I had just knocked over).

We called it a Suicide too. Every so often, I will still make myself one at a fast food place that has *make your own drinks*. My kids look at me like I'm nuts.....

And after 15 years, I recently started roller skating again. The fear of falling is MUCH greater now that I am 33 and have bad knees.........but still loads of fun....

Ahhh, memories.

Thanks for the major flashback. Every Saturday and Sunday afternoons, I was at the infamous Eight Red Wheels skating rink. I would lug in my large red, white, and blue case that held my beloved white skates, complete with red pom-poms. I agree that the toe stop was completely useless. At Eight Red Wheels, when you would win one of the races, your prize was a ticket for a soft drink. We would always get the southern version of Swamp Water or Suicide, called "Round The World." In our version, they would add a shot of Big Red cream soda.

whoa, major roller barn flashbacks. and star jeans! I so remember those! The girls at my schools spent hours with their curling irons doing the farrah, and would then gracefully skate around the rink past the dorks like me who were good skaters but really sad dressers. ;-) I think I see a trip to the roller rink in my future...

did we all have the EXACT same childhood?! truly weird. or entirely north american. except that in canada, the jeans were jordash.

(i can so taste those sweating spiked hotdogs, handed over the counter in their soggy white buns wrapped in one thin, starchy white napkin from the chrome dispenser and summarily doused in mustard, ketsup and relish from those little plastic packets. twizzlers for desert anyone?)

Then came highschool and spiking our swamp water with a whole other kind of swamp water filched from the liquor cabinet. A little of this, a little of that and voila! Shitmix! And topping the vodka with water? Apparently the parents could taste the difference. Who knew?

Boy - what memories. This brilliant story, coupled with my wasted afternoon of 80s videos at www.freephotosandvideos.com has made me laugh out loud! Of course, skating those days would not have been complete without the skating anthem, "We Will Rock You." Cheers to Freddie Mercury.

Add a vote for a "suicide" or...a "graveyard". damn did i love those things. are we talking shoe skates here or the old school tennis shoe skates: http://tinyurl.com/o54x8? i had some awesome royal blue nylon ones. lol.

Suicide is what we called that too, here in So Cal. Must a regional thing. Good story.

I now watch my oldest daughther make those wonderful drinks, which now I think taste like "swamp water", I used to go skating every friday night, and the big thing was the pop and nachos! Yum Yum! (I probably wish those nacho's were made with velveta) Thanks for the memories!!

Remember begging our parents to let us stay for "second session"?

I was damn good at shoot the duck - pusher or pushee. I also had my own flashy white skates that I could lace with one hand and I could flip around backwards to stop. I so want to be a Roller Derby Girl.

Heh. Skating with my Jr. Girl Scout troop once w/my younger sister along....she fell every few inches for hours, kept getting up for more. Then she skated into the bathroom, fell in the stall and broke her arm on the paper holder. She'll never live that one down.