So off we went...as I ascended the ladder, I kept thinking, "We're sure going up pretty high." We came to the first diving board, and the boys kept going...and of course so did I. We came to the second diving board...and they still went higher. Finally we got to the third and last diving board -- the jumping-off point (literally) for our watery activity / potential death.
In dismay, I watched each of my friends go out to the end of the board, and with no hesitation whatsoever, leap into the water below. I marveled that their internal organs weren't crushed when they impacted the water. Finally, I was the only one who hadn't yet jumped. As I moved boldly (not!) toward the end of the board, my courage ebbed with each ensuing step. When I got to the end of the board and looked down at my minnow-sized friends in the water far below, they were all yelling for me to jump.
I didn't know what to do. Quitting wasn't in my nature...especially when I was with friends. But I was way up in the sky, probably further than I had ever been in my life. Clouds darted past me, not seeming to care about or even notice my predicament. Some of them even seemed to be mocking me. (My memory is that I was about 100 feet above the water...but I suspect it was no more than 20 feet....)
At that moment, if I had remembered my mother's oft-repeated expression --
"Well, if your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?"
-- I might have swallowed my pride, backed carefully away from the business end of the diving board and climbed down the ladder to at least the 75-foot board (which was probably about 15 feet above the water).
What to do, what to do? I could hear my friends' calls...which now included words that sounded a lot like "sissy" and "chicken." I looked down again, and saw I was still 100 feet / 20 feet above the water.
Finally the decision was made, and I leaped into the thin air. As I leaped, I remember thinking, "What have I done?!"
Somehow, I survived.
Why am I sharing this story that seems totally irrelevant in a blog about going to China?
As I reached the point where I knew there was no going back -- when my momentum carried me off the end of the diving board and I could not turn back even if I wanted to -- I had a number of conflicting emotions including....
Sheer terror...
Pure exhilaration...
(Sure Terrilaration? Peer Exilarerror?)
The reason I share this story is that those emotions have assailed me once again -- as I now pass the point of no return, I ask myself, "What have I done?!" I feel sheer terror...and pure exhilaration about our upcoming adventure. I'll let you know if my organs get crushed when I impact the water. (If that happens, Bonita may have to do that post...)
We're on our way -- China, here we come!
I cannot imagine all the emotions you both are feeling! We love you, we will miss you, and we will be praying for you often. ❤
ReplyDeleteWe will always think of you!!!!
ReplyDeletePraying for you and all your internal organs!
ReplyDeleteWe’re so excited for your adventure! Can’t wait to hear all of the exciting stories, told only as you can tell them Uncle Danny. We’ll keep the fort down. ❤️
ReplyDeleteI was excited to hear you are going to do this adventure! I traveled back and forth to Beijing, spending 2-3 weeks at a time in 2000-2001 and again in 2005 working with Motorola. I have other friends who are in the same program you are and this is their 3rd year of doing this. The students are wonderful and so eager to learn! On weekends when I stayed in China I would typically take the interns or my China team members as my weekend guides. It allowed me to do things at China cost and not American costs, which at that time and place translated in feeding a whole family for about $15 vs. $45 by myself and the food was vastly better!
ReplyDeleteWhat creates a most memorable adventure is to go to a Natural History museum and have your intern try to explain the exhibit...can be totally hilarious!! Because I go to them a lot, I would then explain what I thought it was trying to display and help them figure out the English words and context. Not as easy as you would think because of the different thought structure. That is how they really start learning English. I became a very popular weekend activity for the interns! Helped that I paid for everything including much better meals than they normally had. Remember, poor students are the same everywhere.
Have fun and do not worry...it will be a great experience!
Bob
Love you, miss you, praying!
ReplyDeleteOh, quick being a sissy and just jump already! Don't worry, Bonita will hold your hand through it. :) You know we are jealous and just may come out and visit. I imagine in a few years, we will be following in your footsteps. We will miss you guys but are so excited for you.
ReplyDeleteSince your name came across as "Unknown" on the blog, egg wrote this? 😊
ReplyDelete