Prompt: Name one thing you always wanted to do, but haven’t. What has prevented you from doing it?

[susandennis]

(I am cherry picking here from a giant list I found - no rhyme or reason or schedule.)

I have always wanted to jump from an airplane and take a ride in a hot air balloon. I haven't done the former because I'm a chicken. I haven't done the latter because ... no good reason.

Once years ago - like early 80's - when I was young and idiotic enough to not be such a chicken, I came perilously close. I was out drinking with a bunch of friends that included my work friend, Peggy and her husband who's name I do not remember. We went late into the night with lots and lots and lots to drink and wild fun and conversation. Along the way, somehow my desire to parachute out of a plane came up. Peggy's husband piped up "Well, hey, I've got a pilot's license and a parachute and a plane... and time tomorrow morning! How about I swing by and pick you up about 10ish?"

I allowed as how that would be FABULOUS!!!! And that's how we left it at the end of the night/morning. Until I woke up the next morning. With a major case of WTF-itis. I called an cancelled.

I have always wondered if we would have gone through with it. Surely he wouldn't have taken up someone who had never done it before and just dumped 'em. Surely. But... I will never know.

I did do parasailing once and it was wonderful and amazing and beautiful and, if I ever run into another place that offers it up, I'll totally do that again anytime of the day or night. But parachute... probably not.

I do love hot air balloons. I love seeing them and I'd love to ride in one. Every once in a while I look up various balloon festivals and toy with going. And I never do. Mostly inertia-itis for that one.

Comments

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

I would love to do a parachute jump. I have done the hot air balloon and it was great

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

I'm from Albuquerque, the hot air balloon capital of the world, and have thus gotten to ride in them a couple of times. It's really a lot of fun. The landing? Less fun.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

I have no desire to jump from an airplane. I don't know if I actively wanted to go up in a hot air balloon, but when it was presented as an option during our tour in Egypt in 2011, I enthusiastically signed up. Yeah, it meant getting up at an entirely uncivilized hour, but for an aerial view of the Valley of the Kings it was totally worth it.

I have a certain degree of acrophobia, but a waist-high barrier was sufficient to conquer it.

Parasailing? Hang-gliding? No way. Zip-line? Maybe.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I'd love to go up in a hot air balloon! I hope you do it so you can tell us about it.

[letmesaythis.livejournal.com]

The skydiving death of Philly's beloved Jim O'Brien (who was also Frazier's Peri Gilpen' s dad) while I was in college forever squashed any desire to skydive that I might have ever had. I've done parasailing once and was not very afraid but I would not repeat it. I definitely don't have the courage for hot air ballooning.

[susandennis]

I was only vaguely aware of Jim O'Brien and had no idea his daughter was Peri Gilpen or that he died sky diving. Wikipedia just filled me in on the dets. Wow.

I love how you read and comment on old entries of my journal. I've already forgotten some of the entries you comment on and it's fun to both re-live them and read your take. Thank you!

[letmesaythis.livejournal.com]

My pleasure! I'll be caught up with you some day. I always check for your latest post just to make sure you're OK then dive into catch-up mode. I'm glad that you don't mind or think it's too strange of me to do so. :)

[susandennis]

I think it's wonderful and I love that you check my pulse first! That makes me giggle.