"You goin?"
It's more of a dare than a question
"Of course. You?"
Favor returned.
Pride keeps you from voicing concern and fear. Stubbornness pulls you from the boat and you begin to swim for the cliffs. The water is warm and encouraging but deep. That dark kind of deep... forever if you go too far deep.
These first set of rocks are low, clunky and easily scaled by the wettest most unstable hands. But then it gets a little tricky.
You can jump from the lower level as most do--where the screaming, laughter and trash talk bounce off that clear beautiful water. You'll sink softly into it coming up smiling,refreshed and with just a few butterflies tickling your belly. This path to happiness is well marked by soft dirt, sunlight and wild strawberries. How sweet...giddy summer memories.
Or you may, as Robert Frost suggests, take "The Road Less Travelled". THIS path is more ominous. There is shade and overgrowth. Briars and brittle vines try to warn you by biting at your skin. You don't feel the tickle of butterflies but the sting of the unknown. Your legs burn as you claw over gnarled roots and loose rock. This landscape is less forgiving. You feel a tinge of regret as you balance, squeeze and stretch to the top. You are panting and sweaty. You swipe your upper lip.
Here there is no trash talk or laughter only fear and self-doubt. Do you know what that sounds or feels like? Often times it disguises itself as a breeze whispering "Are you sure?" along the nape of your neck. It feels as if your muscles are dissolving inside your body. It tingles; in a bad way.
People below don't jeer. They shake their heads and laugh nervously. I think everyone says a little prayer.
Looking down? Not smart. It's the fun house effect; starting your salt glands and stuffing a couple of tears around your lashes. It becomes hard to breathe so you tell yourself--"Better jump. Going back down that was is too hard." You fool yourself.
It's time.
Whether you plan it or not, you gulp air. Last breath? Maybe. If your lucky that's all you remember. Otherwise you feel the rock slapping the soles of your feet trying to knock sense into you as you run for the edge. The trees rustle their leaves : "Pleeeeease!" is what you hear in the wind.
Then there is nothing but WHOOSH. Your eyes are open, ripping at the sky around you. Your cheeks feel as if they are tangled up in your ears. Is that thunder you hear? Or is it your life force bailing out on your before you hit the water? And where IS that water anyway? You saw it when you came up here. You're certainly not in the mood to play hide and seek right now. But you wait for it. You have no choice now.
You close your eyes and call yourself a fool. You try to take it back; maybe shout "Wait!" or "Just Kidding!" but as you open your mouth, you will eat those words and then some. Your mouth is full of panic, terror, exhileration.
It sounds like a slamming book. Suddenly it's all around you. Water. You can move but not breathe. Not yet. You understand now how deep it is here. You flail and fight because you couldn't before. You see light above you and continue to climb. Your lungs are hot. You wince and pull harder at the sunshine reaching through to help you.
"BAH-Hee HAAAH" you snort, feasting hungrily on air, the sight of your friends and well....life.
You made it. The reality sets in-you survived those five seconds. You wipe your face astonished and happy.
They look at you and laugh now. You will need help getting back into the boat because your muscles are not participating yet. You can't remember how to work your legs.
"Well?"
You shake water from behind your eyes and the deepest regions of your brain. You are full. A small smile comes. "Not bad". You don't know if you're talking about yourself or the experience. Looking back at the looming jagged rocks, that foolish pride begins to glow. You wonder if you'll ever do it again. You admit that you could but you doubt that you will.
I hope this explains it a little better. Frye's Leap. What a rush. Yes, I screamed like Goofy all the way down. "Ba-ha-ha-HOOOEY!!!" I can't believe I did it. Hooray me.
Have a nice one. Thanks for thinking of me and stopping in.
