I’ve always been a bit of an adrenaline junky! As a kid I was very active and did lots of
very physical types of activities. I
took gymnastics, starting at the age of 5.
I took all sorts of dance classes.
I was the one who liked to place the foam mattresses from our guest bed
on the stairs to the basement, and slide down them, head first. Horseback riding, with learning how to do
jumps, was one of my favorite childhood activities (even when I would get
thrown or go over a jump without the horse.
Even that one time that while going over a jump, my horse turned and I
fell off WITH MY FOOT STILL STUCK IN THE STIRRUP!! Having
grown up in a neighborhood that had originally been an apple orchid, I would
often be found up in a tree. Climbing
trees was always something I loved to do.
I would climb out onto a limb, and pick some of the apples. I’d eat some and throw some down to my dog,
who was waiting for her treat! Skiing
was something that in my family, we had no choice about. My Dad was a National Ski Patrolman. So we were up at the slopes most weekends when
I was a kid. Thing is, I hate the cold
weather!! REALLY hate it! So while it was fun to go downhill, I really
didn’t enjoy being cold!!
As I got older, I expanded to other activities. In college I started the women’s Rugby
team! I love rugby! It’s a very physically challenging
sport. Unfortunately, most of the women
who initially signed up were not that thrilled with being incredibly sore, and
having raspberry bruises all over! So
the team didn’t last very long!
I was in the cycling club too. Now, you may not think that’s very adrenaline
inducing. But when you are riding in
traffic, it does get that way. There
were lots of times that I had to quickly
swerve to avoid getting hit, or to avoid a car door that quickly opened. There was the one time I didn’t swerve fast
enough out of the way of the car door.
Riding head first into an open car door is NOT fun!
But I have to say that the most adrenaline inducing activity
that I ever took on was the flying trapeze!
I can still remember my first time up on the rig. I was in Turks and Caicos. It was a GORGEOUS setting for flying! The ocean, the beach, the trees and the
beautifully painted buildings. I climbed
the VERY high ladder, and crossed over the open space to the platform. Once up there, I felt my legs shaking. I was a bit surprised, because I didn’t
really think that I was nervous. I
waited for the person in front of me to finally hop off to do her turn. It took a while, because she was REALLY
nervous. And as soon as she left, I
realized that it hadn’t been my legs that were shaking, it was her! She was shaking so badly, that she shook the
entire platform, and me on it! So it was
my turn to get hooked up in the safety lines, and hop off the platform into
thin air!
And once I did, there was no turning back! I was hooked!
I returned to the resort 2 more times in the next 4 months, with the
sole purpose to do more flying trapeze!
Then FINALLY, a trapeze school opened in New York City!! I spent a
boatload of money taking classes! But I was
having the best time!! Even with the
extremely sore muscles (which I actually like.
I know, I’m a weirdo!) and the ripped skin on my hands (that I didn’t
like so much!! Especially when it came
time to shower or wash my hair!!) There
are now several flying trapeze schools in the NYC area.
During the years after I started flying trapeze, I spent the
majority of my time either up in the air, preparing to go up in the air, or
talking with my fellow flyer friends about being up in the air!!
Unfortunately, a few years back, I had an accident and ended
up having to have 2 surgeries and went through 9 months of physical therapy. Yes, it was a flying trapeze accident. All I’m going to say about that is … if you’re
not being paid to fly in a circus, and if you cannot tell if the timing is off,
then NEVER take off the safety lines!
With the safety lines, flying trapeze is not really that dangerous! (well, except to the skin on your
hands!)
Have I been back to flying trapeze? Yes.
But now, the shaking on the platform may actually come from me. Where I never had fear before, I now do get
somewhat nervous. But will that
completely stop me? Oh hell no!! But I’m definitely not a regular at the rig,
like I once was. And yes, that is a bit
sad.
This past Friday, I tried laser tag for the first time! O … M … G!!!
So much fun!!! Adrenaline
pumped! I got lots of exercise (yes, I’m
one of those weirdos who likes to exercise!) and my thighs are screaming at me
today! And I was actually really
good! Like, REALLY good! Being short was definitely an advantage in
this game! The only thing that would
have made it better … if we could have climbed up on things!!
So, if there’s ever a faction choosing ceremony that I have
to go through, be assured, my blood will be dripped onto burning coals!
*for those who never
read or saw the Divergent series, the last sentence refers to choosing to join
the group known for being brave
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