There are a number of things that I am afraid of ranging from the full-blown phobia to the simple I really don't like that, but I'll survive as long as it stays away from me kind of fear. I suspect my family has always taken some delight in challenging those fears. For example, I do not like heights. I am an Acrophobic. I have always said that God made me short because he understood that about me. My family, of course, is well aware of this yet on vacations they would plan things that would test my limits. For instance, they would make me ride on the exposed Grim Reaper bench suspended high above the tree tops by a teeny-tiny string. Some call this torture device a ski lift. No, thank you. I would rather walk up the mountain.
On another vacation we were driving to Sedona, Arizona. After sitting in the back seat the entire trip my parents decided that it would be fun to put me in the front passenger seat for our drive over the Rockies. (We were on a road that appeared to be used mostly by locals.) Fun is not how I would describe it. I sat there white knuckled, clutching the seatbelt strap with tears rolling down my face. I felt completely helpless as other vehicles, including huge UPS and FedEx trucks, squeezed past us on the two-way (TWO-WAY...HA) road. I tried to close my eyes, but that made me panic more so I would open my eyes. However, from my lovely front row seat of certain death I had a birds-eye view. I would open my eyes and see the safety guard-less, crumbling road and the sharp curves that seemed to be barely clinging to the side of the mountain. To my horror I could see everything, including the rusted carcasses of every type of car ever made trapped for eternity in the tops of trees FAR below.
My father, who was driving, became rather annoyed with my repeated warnings of "We're all going to die!" in-between my prayers for God to keep us safe. In an attempt to lighten the mood he said, "Everything's going to be alright. We just have to stay between the line and the drop off. We do that and we'll be okay." Great choice of words, Dad. Drop off... yep, that should help subdue the terror. I didn't sit in the front seat again.
Why I am I dredging up past experiences? Well, upon my parents request, all of us are going on another family vacation this summer. I'm just wondering what challenging experiences will be in store for me on this trip. I think I'll be fine as long as I am not ON the mountain. I like to view them from a distance.
On another vacation we were driving to Sedona, Arizona. After sitting in the back seat the entire trip my parents decided that it would be fun to put me in the front passenger seat for our drive over the Rockies. (We were on a road that appeared to be used mostly by locals.) Fun is not how I would describe it. I sat there white knuckled, clutching the seatbelt strap with tears rolling down my face. I felt completely helpless as other vehicles, including huge UPS and FedEx trucks, squeezed past us on the two-way (TWO-WAY...HA) road. I tried to close my eyes, but that made me panic more so I would open my eyes. However, from my lovely front row seat of certain death I had a birds-eye view. I would open my eyes and see the safety guard-less, crumbling road and the sharp curves that seemed to be barely clinging to the side of the mountain. To my horror I could see everything, including the rusted carcasses of every type of car ever made trapped for eternity in the tops of trees FAR below.
My father, who was driving, became rather annoyed with my repeated warnings of "We're all going to die!" in-between my prayers for God to keep us safe. In an attempt to lighten the mood he said, "Everything's going to be alright. We just have to stay between the line and the drop off. We do that and we'll be okay." Great choice of words, Dad. Drop off... yep, that should help subdue the terror. I didn't sit in the front seat again.
Why I am I dredging up past experiences? Well, upon my parents request, all of us are going on another family vacation this summer. I'm just wondering what challenging experiences will be in store for me on this trip. I think I'll be fine as long as I am not ON the mountain. I like to view them from a distance.