Artful Realist

For many of us, summer is a time for the adrenaline rush of a good roller coaster. Each coaster taunts us with its own promise. Some promise speed, others harrowing loops. There are coasters that promise to suspend us in the air and frighten us in the dark. One thing’s for sure: we celebrate the coasters that exceed our expectations.

This article in today’s New York Times profiles a particular type of coaster that combines the best of science with the charm of the past. Wooden roller coasters can have tighter bends and twists than steel ones. They excel at giving just the right amount of airtime—that exhilarating feeling that grips the pit of your stomach when you truly feel you’re falling and makes you happy to be alive.

My favorite part of the accompanying video is the interview with Sister Michelle Sinkhorn, a Benedictine who is lovingly referred to as The Coaster Nun. Her excitement demonstrates just how universal the power of a good coaster can be for saints and sinners alike.