What seemingly innocent activity or event have you participated in and, with no way to cease the activity, you found yourself in danger?
(I do not like amusement park rides and after much cajoling my friends got me to ride a Ferris wheel. I was okay until the wheel broke with my car stranded at the very top for what seemed like hours. The entire time we were stuck I looked just like that cat.)
I try to avoid getting myself in any dangerous situations. But I think just living is pretty dangerous nowadays.
ReplyDeleteI was with a bunch of coworkers on the "Scream Machine" roller coaster at Six Flags over Georgia (day of a company outing.) Our car got stuck at the very top and we were in the same situation as you - we just had to wait it out while they figured it out. I finally just laid my head back and closed my eyes.
ReplyDeleteWhen i did a rockclimbing course in my thirties. I could see the road 300' below me and knew I had to keep climbing until I came to the end of the rope, but first I had to traverse on tip toes until I reached a climbable spot. If I came off I would probably be rescued whist dangling but would be bashed against the rock.
ReplyDeleteI didn't die.
LL Cool Joe -- You are so right. I have often said that newborn babies should be stamped with a warning label, "Caution life can be hazardous to your health)?
ReplyDeleteLynn -- Did you continue to go to Six Flags over Georgia and ride the rides after that? I gave up fairs and amusement parks after my experience.
Pat -- Now that definitely was an event with "no turning back". Yikes! Not that brave in my 30's...or my 20's or EVER! Glad you didn't die:)
Mine would probably be riding a dirt bike that was too big for me. I ended up wiping out the neighbors hedges. Good thing he was a good sport. Needless to say I only ride motorcycles as a passenger now and only if I know and trust the driver. As far as fair rides...I grew up a 'carny' and even though I know regulations have changed alot over the years, my memory of how fast they put up and take down the rides has caused me to only eat the food at fairs.
ReplyDeleteI had a pretty scary experience while river rafting....it was maybe 15 yrs ago. We hit a bad spot and the guide got thrown off the back and a couple of people got thrown off the front. Those of us left had to get to the side of the river, climb up the bank and walk a log way before we could find a place to call for help. I'm sure these days everyone would have had a cell phone with them.
ReplyDeleteBonnie -- A good friend of mine had a similar motorcycle ride and she went through a barbed wire fence. Her scars are enough to warn anyone away from motorcycles. What does "grew up a carny" mean? Were your raised in a carnival? Amazing! Bet you have some great stories there.
ReplyDeleteJeanie -- Please tell me that the guide and the others thrown out of the raft did survive. Haven't you seen enough movies to know you should avoid river rafting? lol
I saw the cat and your profile picture... couldn't control laughing :)
ReplyDeleteI was about 8 months pregnant when hubby and I went out on our hobbie cat to sail around a perfectly lovely lagoon. On the way back a terrible tropical storm came up and we had to sit in the pouring rain just yards from the seawall because we could not see the dock.
ReplyDeleteashok -- So was that your frightening experience? Ha ha ha ha ha ha:)
ReplyDeleteTabor -- How in the world did you manage to keep your small craft from filling with water? I was in a sudden storm once in a large sail boat and it was a miracle we made in back safely. How you guys survived the storm amazes me. How long does a tropical storm last?
Opening my mouth! But you knew that. Loved your limerick btw!
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty -- Oh yes, we all know the danger that gets you into.
ReplyDeleteI had one similar to yours.
ReplyDeleteI was on a mini-ferris wheel with some friends when it started to rain. Which of course made it hard to stop the ferris wheel because the brakes got wet. So they were able to slow it down just enough for us to safely jump out.
I got married.
ReplyDeleteOn another note. Not only is Beth talented, she won't have trouble getting a date to the prom.
G.B. Miller -- Why do we ever ride those rides? Must be a lot of daredevil in a lot of us. It wasn't difficult for me to give it up.
ReplyDeleteCliff -- I'm going to tell Marilyn you said that! And yes, Beth will have a lot of trouble getting a date to the prom because they would have to get past her two big brothers and her dad.
That cat does look scared! I take it that you don't like Ferris Wheels???
ReplyDeletesandie
I do go to Six Flags when forced. :) Usually because it's something someone has organized that I can't get out of.
ReplyDeleteI say I was raised a carny but only in the summers. My dad worked 3 jobs so my mom could stay home with us kids and one of them was working for a local carnival. All of us worked at the carnival during the summer. We travelled locally around New England. Not many stories as the man who own the carnival passed away when I was 14. But I think that's why I really enjoy working at the them parks around here.
ReplyDeleteOh how frightening! I don't like those rides either. I can't imagine being stuck at the top of the ferris wheel. I'd probably faint. Well actually I would do the fainting before getting on the thing!
ReplyDeleteI hate roller coasters, but I never got into danger on one.
ReplyDeleteOMG!!!! I think I'll faint right away and just thinking about it freak me out. Hope you are fine now.
ReplyDeleteChatty Crone -- You got that right:)
ReplyDeleteLynn -- We had a place in Tulsa called Bell's Amusement Park and their featured roller coaster was names Zingo. It seems every company party was held there and I was obligated to go but hated every minute, especially when company associates mocked me for my refusal to ride Zingo.
Bonnie -- No wonder you're such a gusty gal.
Mountain Mama -- Actually a few years before the ferris wheel incident I had been on a tilt-a-whirl and had screamed for them to stop the ride so I could get off. So embarassed my then ride companions.
kenju -- There are times I think I need to just overcome my fears and hope on a roller coaster or ferris wheel to conquer that fear. Next thing you know a runaway ride is in the news for endangering or even killing passengers and I change my mind.
Shionge -- Well it was about 40 years ago so I think I'm fine. I just don't go near amusement parks anymore.
I was here twice already, n can't think of a really good one besides:
ReplyDeletelearning to drive a standard shift in downtown Boston when I was 17 with a neighbor, (who funny enough just drove with my big sis to Maine where I went cause she knew my Uncle).
ie: Making a left turn, on a hill, with cars right on your bumper, n only a tiny spot to squeeze thru quickly- is a heart thumper when your not sure you can get the clutch to ease off correctly n get into gear without stalling n rolling back! Thought I'd die over n over.
If you've ever experienced mean Boston drivers whipping around you- you'd know what I mean- they are not patient, n swear horribly! Makes you feel terrible... I still hate driving there, even in an automatic.
Arrrghhh.... That is awful! Same thing happened to me in Wisconsin when I was about 7 months pregnant. I got so scared I could have delivered early.
ReplyDeleteSnaggle Tooth -- There is nothing worse than being at the mercy of a huge machine and not know how to drive it. I am still not good at driving a stick shift and according to my spouse, I'm not very good at driving anything period.
ReplyDeleteKay -- National headlines for sure if you had delivered your child at the top of a stalled Ferris wheel. Glad you missed that 15 minutes of fame. My ride was on the Ferris Wheel in what was, at the time, the world's largest amusement park in Chicago.