The Ladders Don't Necessarily Scare Me...It's The Heights

Ladders

Something about gravity and ladders that don't work well with me. Maybe it's because the only time I've ever broken a bone (knocking on wood as I type...) was when I was either a pre-teen or a new teenager, while picking cherries I was on top of a very tall ladder and it opened up sending me crashing to the ground. My arm--my right arm I believe--was broken. Since then, me and ladders have had a rocky relationship.

It's not the ladders, but the heights. I'd say I have a fear of heights, not a disabling one, but it's there. The thought of not being on the ground where--in my mind--there's security causes that wrap in my gut. I admit it. And I've lived with it for almost fifty-five years.

Then, add a ladder, which usually has an unsteady foundation anyway, and that's when things come together. This past couple of weeks, we've had painters, professional painters, paint our house. It's something we considered doing ourselves, but the thought of climbing a ladder to reach the top of our 30 or so foot tall home gives me the willies. On breaks from work I would walk past the painters and both marvel and cringe at their skill. But, they pulled it off and it looks beautiful.

We didn't have the painters do the entire house--we saved the back deck for ourselves. We thought it would be easy, and compared to the rest of the house, it was. Still, it required time and energy.

And a ladder.

I used the ladder to paint the bottom of the deck from below. I was not 30 feet up, more like 10. I can work with 10. After two coats, it turned out pretty good.

I still marvel at the pros who can scale ladders with ease and seemingly, without fear. I hope they get paid well. It's something I wouldn't do.

Something I'll Probably Never Do...

The attraction's been on the park since 1995 and I've never even been tempted to try it. It's called the Sky Coaster and it looks terrifying.

At the beginning of my shift, I have to fetch water to clean the stage. Right next to the water source is the Sky Coaster and I can watch as those brave souls are lifted 150 feet in the air then dropped. They fall so quickly, you can actually hear them swoosh through the air--you can especially hear the swoosh if the fliers aren't screaming their lungs out.

I know many people love that ride. I'm not one of them. I have respect for those who do. And if you feel you're one of those brave souls, it will be in operation during Frightmares, which ends next weekend.

Enjoy!

Up On The Roof...

Last weekend I did something I don't do much...I climbed out on our roof so I could clean the rain gutters. Now, is it the climbing out on the roof that I don't do much or cleaning the gutters?

Both, actually. 

I'm not one for heights. When I was a child I was high up on a ladder. The support that held it up slipped and I fell straight down. It was the only time I've ever had a broken bone. I can't remember if the height thing resulted from that or if I had it before. So when I climb out on the west side roof on our house, it's a bit unnerving. 

We used to climb up on the roof of my parent's house all the time. It's not as steep as ours and it's a lot bigger. I never got close to the west side of the house on that one either.

People write about being up on roofs. I can imagine they are writing about the flat kind, where they can see an incredible sights. And even though I don't like being up on roofs, I can't deny the views almost make it whole experience worth it.