Trapeze Me, Please!

K, so if you remember, I mentioned some weeks ago that I wanted to do the flying trapeze. I was all hyped up about it, but it was tough trying to find peeps to go with me. Luckily, when I mentioned it to my coworker S, she was all into it. She asked some of her friends as well, and she set up this afternoon's class.

I met S and three of her friends this afternoon at Bayfront Park, where they've got, drum roll please, THE FLYING TRAPEZE! We got there early because we knew we'd have to fill out paperwork -you know, papers with our emergency contact information and a release stating that we would not hold them responsible if we got injured... or DIED! Whatever. Then, we got started. But not before learning the ground rules (hahaha, so funny) for the flying trapeze. The first is

"Never step under the net."

The second is, "No really, never step under the net." What?! The first and the second are the same?! How about, "Don't let go!" or "Dying is not allowed!" Hello? That had me nervous from the get go. I like to operate under strict parameters. I am not a fly by the seat of my pants (I'm hysterical!) kinda gal. I was so nervous, I seriously thought I was going to dry heave. Oh, and um, I kinda failed to mention, I'm TERRIFIED of heights.

Anyway, I let the other girls do it first, and by the time it was my turn, I was so jittery I could not control my bodily functions. I kept hopping from foot to foot and waving my hands. I looked
like I was having a seizure. The girl at the base of the ladder told me not to worry, "First time is fear, second time is fun!", she chirped. I asked her if it was okay for me to cry. Sidenote, S asked her if anyone has ever changed their mind once they got up on the ledge and just come back down. She replied, "Um, we don't really like that." Mmmmkay?

So I started to climb up the ladder. S.C.A.R.Y. Straight up (oh goodness, I'm full of these today). It was SO HIGH! But I managed to get up there. I never looked down. And the fact that I was in a harness definitely helped.

When you're up there, there are two people with you. They unclip the ladder harness, and then clip the trapeze harness. Someone's holding onto you as you edge your toes past the ledge, grab a hold of the bar with your right hand, all the while holding onto the ladder with your left. Then, you grab onto the bar with your left, stomach out, head up, and once you hear, "Ready? Hop!", you hop off the ledge. Yeah, you're just supposed to let go. And believe me, it was difficult letting go. You're body is pumping with adrenaline, but you are still in your right mind, and your right mind is telling you, or rather YELLING at you, "For the love of all that's good and holy -DON'T LET GO!" But, I did let go, and not too ungracefully I might add. S took some great video of me. Here's are two links to check it out:

First try:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR8gFrWt8ZM

Second to last try -great ending flip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIM1sat-tMU

AND IT WAS SO FUN!!!! I did it five times, and the lady was right. After the first time, it was definitely not AS scary. I'm only sad that I wasn't able to get it together for the last trapeze and let that guy catch me. Oh, well. There's
always next time. Catch YOU later!