I was strung up like a chicken. Literally. Hanging quite conspicuously from what appeared to be a million miles above the surface, you would not believe that feeling of utter fright, even if I were to tell you. It was my maiden rock climbing experience, and I mean it. Like you care. Unathletic and absolutely unfit as I was, having my self up in the air so far from the ground with nothing to support myself but my two hands, and totally nothing to save myself except that excruciatingly, well, thin string, the feeling was undeniably unnerving. I was rattled. I was scared. I was miserable.

I suppose it was over-enthusiasm that had coerced me into this pathetic predicament. Maybe it was the under-estimation of the sheer difficultly of the facility. Maybe. I don't know. I had started out fine; as every long distance runner would, totally fresh and self-confident. Ok, I take that back; over-confident. My arms were strong. They were. Really. Really. Really. But that was not the worst thing the boards which I was clinging onto for dear life seemed to abhor me so. Wobbling and shaking like a leaf, and I mean the boards, I was unceremoniously and rudely swung around, like a victim in a wrestling ring. But at least the wrestling ring was on the ground. Unlike me.

My arms were exhausted. But come to think of it, which part of my body was not? My hair of course! Oh man, so much for that brain to come up with such a ridiculously corny answer in this predicament. My head was perspiring so much I believe it was enervated too; breath came in rapid gasps, and my lungs seemed like a ticking tune bomb. Glancing down, my perspiration dripped from my sweat-soaked head, falling down to the ground, so far below....the ground shifted in and out of focus, blurring so much it sure seemed scared the wits out of me. I couldn't hang on much longer.....

Pulling myself vehemently up, I practically gave myself to the out-reaching arms of gravity. So much for trying; insane streaks of pain shot like spears through my heart, crippling me, and if you didn't think that hurt, you had better feel sorry for yourself.

My legs, probably the only part of me which still had but a sliver of power started a frantic search for a protrusion. Finally I found it, and my body thankfully rested its weight onto that sorry hole.

Only that hole wasn't sorry. I was. Slipping (the hole was too small), I fell, and that wisp of a string caught me right where I didn't want it to. But the pain was gone soon later, as I sat gratefully on my lowering harness. The brain had probably muted the pain. Relief

Solid ground! Yes! I tested it. It didn't move. No, not an inch. Not one.

Never again. Really. Never again.