Well after an uneventful ride to Ashland, KY (although the GPS did not do a great job for the last two minutes in the residential area), a tour of Rick's apartment, meeting Rick, having lunch at Ruby Tuesday's (good grief, those two eat super healthy! The more broccoli the better? 'Cause they are 'good carbs'), a leisurely slow meal and sitting around with good conversation, then a tour of Fun Sign Company Warehouse (aka a rented section of storage building), meeting Marshall, it was time . . .
We drove to the MU campus, checked in at the MU Fitness Center, signed legal waivers (which we did not read -- I guess they said something like, "you won't sue us if you get hurt, will you?"), rented climbing shoes (since when do I wear a size 9 in shoes?), get straps attached -- red for the right leg, green for the other leg, next the waist. This does not look comfortable!
"Okay, David, you're the pro. You go first." He does. He makes it look easy. Even though he says he's out of practice, he easily and quickly made it up the first mountain area.
So, now it's my turn. Second thoughts? Nah! Fortunately, this was not a busy day at the Rock Wall. The two employees were there to "blay" (sp?) us.
And just in case we did not know, David was a "blayer" too. Although, since he's not a current student (in summer school), his "blay-ability" was not recognized today.
Okay, my turn . . . Grab. Grip. Step. Lather. Rinse. Repeat -- and all with the knowledge that you really can't hurt yourself, since someone is down there holding your rope.
So, at times, it's easy. Other times, it's not. I guess it really depends on how tall you are and your wingspan (so to speak.) The first wall challenge has a ledge near the top. "No problem, it's like climbing out of the pool and sitting on the edge," they inform me. I did not think that this was the time to confess to the three guys down below, "easy for you to say. I never learned how to swim." So, I slowly came down. Smiled, looked at my smiling son and said, "what's next?"
Ah, the power of encouraging words! If I had tried to do this alone (um, what would be the point of that? Who would have believed it?), I really don't think I would have made it up very high. There really was such a source of strength and encouragement in hearing what I should do next, and how close I was, and that I couldn't give up now!
After he did the second wall, I was ready to tackle it. Okay, this one was quite a bit more challenging. So, why don't they make each of the grips rounded so that you can really hold on? Why don't they make more areas for your feet to rest? Why are my arms burning so much? There was "one brief shinging moment that was known as (not Camelot, but) I think it's quitting time for this ol' man. But thanks to the encouragement of his son, and the reminder that I really can't hurt myself, I pressed on. Near the top, it really got harder to keep going. Had to stop twice. The forearms really ached. Later in the day when I was paying for dinner, it was noticeably 'different' to separate the bills to give to the cashier. Wow, hands ache, too. Right now, I can sense just a bit of tenseness here and there. I think Aleve is calling me.
Okay, I made it -- TO THE TOP. David has a picture to prove it. Yay! The 53 year-old-man who has never done this before made it. What a neat feeling of accomplishment. Really it is. I climbed the mountain!
What a great ending to a great father/son day with my Maniac.
Thank you Lord that the paramedics did not have to be called to scrape the first-timer off the green floor of the Fitness Center.
So, I guess the next question is, when am I going back for Round Two? You know, the Racket Ball Court looked fun . . .
Thank you David for such a fun day!
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