On the Flying Trapeze

Joy wanted to go to Trapeze school for her birthday. So we went together. She's terrified of heights and I thought for a few minutes that I should also be frightened but, as I climbed the ladder to the 23 foot platform, I remembered climbing the ladders on board the HNLMS Rotterdam and I thought, "what the hell? What is there to be afraid of? This is going to be awesome." That day on the Rotterdam still ranks as one of my favorite days in my life.

Then there was the time in Senegal when I climbed up into the Baobab trees - my favorite trees on earth, and walked between them on a wire. What a moment! What a memory!

There's a moment, right after I jump into the nothing that I think, "Oh shit. What have I done? I'm committed now." But there isn't anything to be done. It's just gravity, and holding onto the swing, and feeling the ground rush up. 

I would rather risk falling into nothing than never knowing what it is to live.