I did my first task from the "30" list. I faced a fear. I rode on a motorcycle. That's right - it was moving even! =)
Our friend Steve has been hounding me for weeks to give it a try. It's not that it's never sounded
fun, it has. BUT - they're dangerous, right? People die on these things. But after Steve sent me a few statistics, reminded me that people die when cars hit deer too, promised me he'd be nice, Cori assured me it wasn't that bad, I realized I could count this as my fear on the list (instead of meeting a serial killer), I decided to suck it up, put on my big girl panties, and feel the wind.
Then, I sent him this: Too much? haha, we decided that might make things a little too close for comfort.
Friday was the big day. I was SURE it was going to rain. Steve heard a lot from me that day, poor guy, I'm sure I was driving him nuts to the point of just saying "forget it". Anyway, It didn't rain. Sigh. I talked to Cori and Val online asking what the heck I was thinking and I ran every possible worst-case-scenario I could think of past Dac so he could talk me down from a panic attack. He managed to pull that off so I put on my Let's Get Rowdy shirt (Yes, I really am this cool. Don't hate, congratulate.) and my game face.
Steve showed up and I wanted to run and hide. (I guess maybe it's important to note that I am a total worrier. Big time. I work myself up into big frenzy easily). BUT - I didn't. I slowly shuffled my feet out the door, with my head hung low, while constantly repeating "quit laughing at me guys". Then, as luck would have it, I couldn't even get Cori's awesome dragon slayer-looking helmet buckled. (Seriously? Who doesn't know how to put on and buckle a helmet?) Fail. Then, I struggled to even get on the bike. I am a little bit short and a-lot-a-bit un-flexible. Double Fail. Then, once I did get on the bike, I burnt my leg. I didn't notice it for a couple minutes but then BOOM. It hurt. Tuh-riiiiipple fail. Once we were moving, I instantly wanted to throw up. I'd say that lasted a good 5-10 minutes. It didn't help that Steve disregarded like three of my regulations in the first 30 seconds of the trip. To bring you up to speed, here is one of our recent conversations:
S: So do you want to stay in town. Take the highways. Or see how it goes first?
A: I don't really care... if we can avoid dips, sharp curves, railroad tracks, and bridges, that's probably best. =)
Pause.
A: Not funny, huh?
Well right away we were crossing a busy highway, going over a rickety bridge, and hitting high (high from my scared point of view, but safe none-the-less) speeds. THANK YOU Steve. =) BUT - then I was able to relax and had a lot of fun!! He was really good to go slow (like practically walking the bike) around corners and take it easy on bumps. By the end of it I was able to put my hands in my lap (instead of holding on for dear life to the back of the seat and making my hands go numb...) I was also able to stop squeezing him with my knees. Thigh workout? Yes. A little hawkward? Also yes. Still, it was better than me throwing arms and legs around him in a panic like I may have halfway envisioned. Success.
Anyway, the ride really was pretty awesome and I wouldn't think twice about doing it again. I'm glad they talked me into it and am pretty excited I survived, for one, and also that I was able to cross off a 30 task so quickly. Special thanks go to Steve for taking me and for not making fun of me tooooo much, driving good, and keeping me alive. =) Also, to Cori for letting me borrow her husband and rockstar helmet for a while. These guys rock and are some of the greatest friends you could ask for!
I was planning on having some killer pictures to share but I was too nervous to care too much when it came down to it. SO, I had Dac take these the next day.
In this one, I'm trying not too laugh to much at how incredibly ridiculous I must look.
Here, I'm saying "I'm WILD son!! And I'm out!" hahaha
In other news: If you're a prayer, please pray for my Grandpa Ed (Mom's dad). He went in for emergency bypass surgery last night.
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