Three days in and I’m already stumbling on these themes?
Really?
I had been excited about this challenge again for a while because it was going to be a way to get the creative juices flowing again. The next thing I knew, Nicky at We Work For Cheese was posting them and I was staring in disbelief.
What in the name of holy hell was she thinking?
The last time this challenge happened, I breezed through it. With a mix of true-life stories, thoughts and other things, it was easy.
Not this time.
Today’s theme had me bouncing off the wall. What was I going to write about?
There was this time I was once in Florida. It was 2007 and I was there for a friend’s wedding. Quite a fine time. One day, a few of us started talking about parasailing. I’m not a fan of heights, though. So I wasn’t sure. Well, the one other person said he’d pay for it. And we’d be going up in pairs, so it’s all good.
Yeah, right.
Unless you are two smaller people, you aren’t going up as a twosome.
Regular-sized people need to be with a kid or something like that because the weight limit isn’t astronomical. So, I got stuck going solo. I wasn’t interested in it because of my height fear. No way, no how. Sorry that it was paid for, but I’m not going up, then crashing into the water. Nope. Not going to do it.
The next thing I knew? I was taking this photo with a point-and-shoot I purchased for this adventure:
Way up there.
Turns out it wasn’t so bad after all.
See, the point of this post isn’t just about the parasailing, rather realizing sometimes in life, you’ll do something, overcome fears and realize you enjoy something. I’d definitely be up for some parasailing again, sometime.
These are the things in life that can really be wild.
The view from the boat of others parasailing.
Was I nervous? Scared? Sure. Especially when the guy told you where to put your hands and not to hit certain spots, or you could be looking at a long fall.
That wasn’t something I really was interested in.
But when in the air, I stared at those carabiners and kept thinking about what would happen if those suckers gave out.
Next thing I knew…
Nah, they didn’t bust off. But I relaxed. Took in the sights and smells of being above water like that. And it was quite an experience. One I didn’t expect to have, that’s for sure. I figured I’d be white as a ghost when I came down. Alas, not so.
After all that worry and everything else, the next thing I knew, I had fun. And that is what it’s all about.
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Nice going, taking that step into the unknown and realising it’s not as scary as you thought. We should all do it more often. 🙂
Ziva recently posted..And The Next Thing I Knew, I Was In a Mental Asylum
Oh, it was still scary. But fun as can be, too!
That looks like a lot of fun. For other people 🙂
Oh, and btw, YOU are not allowed to complain about this challenge!! 😉
Nicky recently posted..A True Story
There is no complaining going on. Just factually based statements.
P.J. recently posted..Train coming
Hey P.J.! This sums up most fears: “the next thing I knew, I had fun”. Bingo! Nicely done. Indigo
Indigo Roth recently posted..Unforgiving And Increasingly Detailed
Agreed. I probably have several stories like that!
I always think parasailing looks fun every time I go to Florida, but the reality is…. if I actually did it… the next thing I knew, I’d probably be losing my cookies!
Boom Crash Boom recently posted..And the Next Thing I Knew… (30M2DW: Day 3)
It truly was a blast. I thought I was going to lose cookies, my life and everything else. But it was actually quite serene. You should try it!
P.J. recently posted..Train coming
This looks and sounds like such a great time. I love heights and don’t get to be up over the earth unless it’s in an airplane. Besides, with para-sailing – no security lines. Woot.
Cheryl recently posted..The next thing I knew . . .
If you like heights and such, you should definitely try this out. Amazingly high!
See this is where you’re crazy for parasailing and I’m merely insane for skiing in negative 3 million degrees.
The weather when I did this was like 80. 🙂
You’re a brave one P.J. Not sure I could do this. Good on ya.
nonamedufus recently posted..30DW2-2 – Day 3: And The Next Thing I Knew…
I wasn’t sure I could do it, either. Alas, I was already on the boat, so ya know…
I can relate somewhat to your post. I’m not a friend of heights either. I went up in the Space Needle in Seattle. We purchased our tickets and it was only after we purchased the tickets that I realized that it was a glass elevator. I almost hyperventilated on the way up. Curiously, once we were up there, there were so many anti-suicide devices in place up there that I was fine and really enjoyed myself. Fear, is a mind thing.
Another thing I love is rollercoasters, even though I hate the uphill part. I just don’t look around until we go over the first hill. Then everything is cool. Just don’t let that rollercoaster get stuck somewhere on the lift hill or I’m going to be a basket case. 😉
Paul Myers recently posted..Flashback Friday
Though I hate heights, I can dig things like the Space Needle. It’s the wide open things that get me. Glad you enjoyed it.
And I’m with you on roller coasters. A great rush!
I would have done that in my younger days, now not so sure…
laughingmom recently posted..30 Days of Writing Minus 2 – And the Next Thing I Knew
It’s funny, I find as I get older, I’m more apt to try things like this.
Another insane person. What is with all you insane people showing up here with doing the stuff that people in their right minds don’t do?
Do you know they pay good money for the video clips of people falling to their deaths doing just this kind of thing?
I bet there’s a guy who has a bunch of videos in a secret room in his ranch house in Montana and he’s watching one right now. You’re pretty damned lucky you aren’t labelled “Tape #249”.
Mariann recently posted..Guilt-tripping the Masses…One at a Time
Eh, well I guess insanity works in many ways. If I was Tape 249, at least somebody would be watching!
I have ALWAYS wanted to do that! One day my mom and I need to…. it looks SO FUN!
Katherine recently posted..Damn You, Michael Whiteman-Jones
If you want to do it, definitely try it. It’s peaceful once you are up there.
Next thing you knew…
you had this post written. And it was purely entertaining.
Malisa recently posted..The Chase
Ha! Thanks!
I don’t see you stumbling yet. You pulled this one together into a thematically appropriate post.
Parasailing is amazingly fun, but it is also kind of unnerving.
I cover up the stumbling well. 😉 And I agree with your thoughts on parasailing.