I pulled out my camera, opened my window and aimed behind me - blindly - and clicked.
I was quite happy with the result of that wild shot:
Now, taking a photo while driving probably wasn't the most brilliant thing I ever did, but I made sure there was no traffic around me, and I used the Smart Auto feature on my camera so I didn't have to think about focusing.
But it made me think about taking chances and risky behavior and dangerous activity, and I thought - not for the first time - that there are things I would do in a heartbeat IF I knew I would not die or be seriously hurt. Things like bungee jumping, parachuting, riding full out on a motorbike, driving a race car, riding shotgun in an airplane with a stunt pilot (since I can't fly myself), snowboarding, windsurfing - things that have a very good chance of killing or maiming me, given my age, general condition, and lack of coordination, and I'm not willing to pay that price.
So tell me, if you are so inclined: what is the most dangerous thing you've ever done? What would you do if you knew you'd live and be fine afterward?
For a very long time our only tranport was a motor cycle. Some of it was fun, some of it was hair raising. I became so accustomed to travelling that way I often went to sleep. One dark night I woke when we stopped, and asked why. Himself pointed to the crumpled car ahead which had just hit a cow. We were so close we were spattered. If the cow had come our way we had nowhere to go (we were on a bridge). Ack.
ReplyDeleteAnd one dreadful day we took a cat to the vet on that same bike. (She was stuffed into a napsack, cradled in my arms.)
These days I am a wimp. Big time.
Wow, EC - such a close call. I'm glad you were okay.
DeleteBut - SLEEPING ON A MOTORCYCLE??!! How is that even possible?!
Not a deep sleep, but certainly a complete zone out. Somehow my body knew where we were and a hand would drop down to hang on for known bumps. These days? Not a chance. And we were incredibly lucky that night. The cow and two cars were towed away.
DeleteVery, very lucky. Sounds like your "sweepstakes luck." That's what my Grampy called it.
DeleteI'm not that keen on taking unnecessary risks with my life, and a great deal of the things you've listed I wouldn't have any desire to do even if I knew they wouldn't kill me. In my younger years I did ride a motorbike and I probably drive too fast in my car but that's about it.
ReplyDeletePeoples' comments are surprising me so far - I always thought everyone would want to do the things I listed, and it came down to whether one was brave enough or not. It never occurred to me that there would be no attraction to them at all! Ya learn something new all the time ...
DeleteI think I can honestly say that even if I knew I'd survive and be OK, I would not jump out of a plane and parachute. I am just not an adrenaline junkie in that way.
ReplyDeleteI would probably scuba dive. In reality, I'm way too leery of being in deep water to enjoy it! (I do snorkel, though!)
As I replied to Joe above, I had no idea that not everyone was itching to do all of the things I listed! Weird thing to learn at this stage of my life! Now, scuba diving ... I don't know if I could do that even knowing I'd be okay, with my fear of deep water. Snorkelling does sound better.
DeleteWhen I was a teenager, I climbed buildings to get to the roof. Old city buildings had ladders attached. If you could get high enough to reach them, the rest was easy.
ReplyDeleteGreat, great photo!
"the rest was easy" ... says you ... not for those who get dizzy on a kitchen chair, though! I bet the views were amazing.
DeleteI'm thinking of taking ALL my photos without looking, from now on :)
Well, I did race motorcycles when I was a kid, from about age 12 until about 21, and there were some hairy incidents involved, but for all of the times I crashed, and there were many, I never required any medical attention.
ReplyDeleteI did go to the ER twice from crashing bicycles, though, mostly because I didn't wear any protective gear when I rode them. One time my front wheel fell off and I ended up with broken teeth and stitches in my chin, and the other time my forks broke and I was knocked out cold with a mild concussion. I still remember waking up on the gurney being wheeled into the waiting room after my x-rays and CAT scan and seeing my mother with that look on her face (the "is this the time when they bring me the chunks that used to be my son" look) and hearing the radiologist tell her "Well Mrs. McFall, we x-rayed your son's head, but we didn't find anything..."
-Doug in Oakland
I'm wincing and laughing at the same time :)
Delete(mostly wincing, though)
I've worn that look-)
DeleteI have done way too many dangerous things, but that one pops out is when I laid down in the center of a heavily trafficked road in order to show how grande my hues were. Not a smart move. I have always wanted to sky dive but don't know if I could do it these days. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what "how grande my hues were" means, but given the context I'd say you probably proved it.
DeleteI had a pilot's license long ago, but never understood why anyone would jump out of a perfectly good airplane. When I was about 8 or 10 years old I decided that if fish could breathe in through their mouths and out through their gills that I should be able to breathe water in through my mouth and out through my nose. I was wrong!
ReplyDeleteWhen you get a Smart Auto feature driving your car you can safely turn around and take a picture. Until then just be careful.
P.S. Been listening to the Rankin Family a lot since our last discussion of them.
I'm not sure I'm going to even trust Smart Auto, to tell you the truth!
DeleteHave you blogged about the flying or the breathing of water? If not, you should :)
I listened to three different Rankin versions of Mull River Shuffle not long ago - another of my favourites.
The most dangerous thing I've done, probably, is hitch hike. If I knew I could do anything and not get hurt, I'd probably go on a multi-week hike where you camp out in the woods.I'd go with a good friend or two. Want to come with?
ReplyDeleteHiking sounds like a lot of work, but I'd go because it sounds like a lot of fun, too. Maybe we could bungee jump at some point.
Delete