Contribution
Come fly with me
Someone said that at a certain stage in one's life, one should do something new, something which he or she hasn't done before. It's the time of my life [the "olive oil" generation?] when the term "empty nest" is a reality, and the cliché "Now you can smell the flowers" is literal, rather than just a figure of speech. However , it's also a chance for a "second wind", to try one's wings in an entirely different sphere. I did exactly something new at this time of my life. In the past few years we were blessed to travel to nearby countries which we've never gone to before but this is an entirely different experience.
My family and I were at a resort last year in Boracay enjoying the panorama of the waves breaking into the seashore and just basking in the company of loved ones. Farther out, we could see the bright stripes of sails billowing up in the air. It was almost time for the grand sunset which everyone was looking forward to watch. Then my son-in-law remarked "Why don't we go parasailing tomorrow." "What's that?" I asked . Then he pointed out "There, Mom " into the direction of those colorful sails up there. Then I said, "Not me", not knowing whether I ll be swimming in the water and being dragged by those sails. He was insistent "C'mon Mom, it's fun and you can do it". Well, since the afternoon was drawing to a close, we shifted to another topic and I thought that was the end of it. But I wondered about it and admittedly I was curious.
The next afternoon found us again by the beach. Quietly and without funfare my son in law had made arrangements with the persons managing the speedboat. He then started urging everyone to join him parasailing. I have always been conscious of being physically fit, going to the gym as often as I can, and walking around the village is a favorite activity. However, still with trepidation and heightened expectation, I debated with myself, but the daredevil in me must have upstaged the inner phobia. I have fear of heights!!! I still remember that I couldn't even take the escalator down from five stories in a particular mall. However strangely, I had no problem riding on cable cars in resorts. It was weird. Finally, I agreed to go on the condition that I wont be alone. So in my tankini and aqua shoes [at that point, I still thought I would be in the water], I bravely strode to the speedboat that was waiting for us
The boat sliced the water as it raced further out to sea. Then it stopped and the "fun" began. My son, Eric and son in law Kevin and myself will be going up with the parachute! The boatmen explained to us the mechanics -- since we are three, we will be hoisted at a much higher altitude than if there was only one or two persons . We were strapped into individual harnesses but tied together. I was wedged in the middle between Eric and Kevin, two hefty warm bodies [which was a comforting thought]. Thus we were in a sitting position each on a narrow slab of wooden strap.
Then the pulley started to grind and slowly we were going up, up, up and away and pulled by the multi-striped parachute. We swayed a little and a gust of wind would slap against our butts. I trained my eyes forward towards the mountains behind the resort, not daring to look down. I kept pointing at the villas and houses atop the hills , talking and speculating who might be their owners. It was nonsense actually. I was obviously nervous, chattering just to calm my nerves. My two companions were strangely quiet, perhaps battling their own demons. One time, Eric asked about the wind's direction, presumably kidding us about his stomach's upheaval. I had no idea how high we'd flown but for a short glimpse downwards, I saw that the speedboat that was pulling us was just the size of a hand. My goodness! I'm sure my two fellow fliers would agree with me that it was the longest moment of our lives. But it was exhilarating and kind of out of body experience. And we had our fifteen minutes of fame on air. [pun intended] Gradually we were lowered to the speedboat. Kevin left his camera with the boat person to take our pictures for posterity. Long after, we found out that he wrongly focused the camera and instead photographed a companion's feet!*#& Well, so much for hard evidence of our experience, but for me it was an accomplishment. I did it!!
I went parasailing at 68 [in a few months then I would be 69] So there's always a first time even at that age. Go for it -- is my mantra to my colleagues, to learn and do something new and different -- not too late to Yahoo! And to surf, to cook pasta, grow plants, to take up belly dancing and take on Extra Challenge. [why not?]