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.
