Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Up, Up and Away

I felt like Marty McFly in Back to the Future. I was called a "chicken" and had to prove my bravery. Unfortunately doing so took me 75 feet into the air with only a parachute and two small silver clips between me and plunging into the ocean. I did the unthinkable for someone terrified of heights and not really keen on the life that lives in the ocean –– I went parasailing.

This past weekend 4 of my good friends from college flew into town and we decided to spend the weekend at the beach. While we were sitting on the beach Saturday morning Kate and Tracey decided they wanted to go parasailing. I of course said "Hell no" in the most polite way I could. But after alot of "Bawk Bawk Bawk" talk I somehow found myself putting on a life jacket and hopping on a banana boat heading towards the parasail boat.

I was terrified. Scared poopless. The Matthew McConaughey look-alike captain and his assistant harnessed the three of us to a bar connected to a rope with a small knot tied to the parachute and the next thing I knew we were 75 feet in the air. All three of us thought we were going to vomit. In fact Kate and Tracey apologized for calling me chicken and dragging me along.

After about 5 minutes and lots of heavy breathing I finally opened my eyes. The view was amazing. We could see for miles. We kept looking for stingrays and sea turtles, but all we saw were giant jellyfish and seaweed. I bet parasailing over the Gulf of Mexico would be awesome with the clarity of the water. After 20 minutes (yes it was a really, really long 20 minutes) it was time to "dip" us. Just as they were bringing us down we saw dolphins jumping out of the water. That was way cool, until we realized we were being dipped right near them. And just for future reference in case you are crazy and decide to parasail yourself, "dipping" is not just your feet, rather they plunge your whole body into the water before pulling you back up.

So I did it. And I lived. Definitely an experience of a lifetime. One that I can honestly say I do not see myself doing ever again.

Before we went up.
Getting ready to go up.
Going up. At this point I am still oblivious to what I am doing.
Going higher...
Getting dipped.
And still being dipped...
Going back up.
Finally coming down.
Okay I think I am safe to wave now.
Getting ready to land... Thank goodness.

8 comments:

ErinFiat said...

My heart's beating just a little faster even thinking about that. You get to be my hero for the day. ;)

Jennifer said...

*I COMMENTED IN THE WRONG SPACE THE FIRST TIME..SORRY:)

Hey..looks like fun, oh wait a minute it was, I did that before a couple times..Love it!!
I almost jumped out of a plane...how crazy is that? Well I was sick the day of the jump:( you talk about bummed out. I was going to jump in Austria!!! Oh well that was 10+ yrs. ago, I've been over that for sometime now...a least a week...heheh
You may have scared the planters wart out of you body too?

Glad you had a great weekend..looks like fun!

Angi said...

I did that many, many years ago in the Bahamas. I agree with you - glad I did it, don't need to do it again!

LiLi said...

What a way to face a fear!!! you go girl!

Anonymous said...

I can't believe you did that!!! I'm so terrified of heights that the thought would not even cross my mind to even consider doing that, so good for you. You are way braver than me!

Unknown said...

You look the least scared out of all the girls! :) Way to go!!!

And did you scan copyrighted pictures? Can I turn you in? ;)

mama2dibs said...

Good for you! Give yourself a pat on the back and be glad that you did it! I would love to do something like that.

Corie said...

Oooh- you are very brave!!!