This is a continuation from last week’s post (Holding on for dear life)……

…..”You’ll be alr….”  WOOSH!!!  My muscles immediately tensed up, as I closed my eyes.  It was such an intense force, that the drop lifted me completely out of my seat!  I could feel my body only being held down by the shoulder cage.  [Okay.  I’m officially scared as crap.]  I could hear my friend next to me yelling, “Yeah, Brown!”  I was just praying, “God, just get me through this.  I can get through this.”  We were twisting and bending through the air.  “This must be how a cowboy feels at a rodeo,” I thought.

Just as things seemed to subside, I was about to open my eyes when……WOOSH!  Uh-oh.  Here we go again.  Deep breaths.  Just deep breaths.  I certainly wasn’t going to open my eyes until this coaster stopped completely (I should’ve known better after riding the Superman at Six Flags a few years ago)!  The ride couldn’t have lasted for more than 30+ seconds, but it felt like 5 minutes to me.

As the ride slowed down, I slowly peeked with one eye, to make sure the coast was clear.  It was.  I had finally reached the end.  As we arrived at the loading dock, I felt a sign of relief: for two reasons.  1) I was off of this blasted ride; 2) I had conquered my fear of heights (even if it was with my eyes closed).

I gave my friend a “hi-five” and we went downstairs to view the pictures.  Wait?! What?!  Pictures?!  [I’ve promised myself that I would not post the actual pic for your visual critique: EVER.]  Let’s just say I was slumped over in my seat; no doubt a technique I inherently learned from one of my pseudo-Lamaze classes.  Ha!  It was awful.  Okay, okay, it wasn’t that bad.  The picture was my very own “badge of courage,” actually.  It will serve as a constant reminder of the day I conquered my fear of heights.

But, let’s take a closer look at the experience.  Isn’t life a lot like riding a roller coaster?  I mean, aren’t there peaks and valleys and twists and turns?  Sometimes, you feel comfortable enough to open your eyes, but just as you do, something else crazy happens?  When something happens you’re not prepared for, you just pray to get through it.  Don’t forget that you have someone beside you, to affirm that you will.

It can be tough, but don’t worry; you’ll make it.

Until next time,

Love & Peace.

-Herbie