Good Question

This is what my mother said when she learned that my husband and I, along with several members of his family were planning to raft Westwater Canyon. That same year a man had lost his life at Skull Rapids. Her exact words, "Oh, Kass, why invite death?" It became our slogan for the trip as we did flip at Skull Rapids. My husband was sucked under the entire length of the raft. Somehow, we all managed to avoid death or serious injury. We all went bobbing along until we managed to regroup and continue our adventure. A family member who has his own foundry made us all a belt buckle like this.  It is one of my treasures.

How many times in our lives have we taken risks for the sake of a thrill, or in the least, an enhanced experience? 






Here in the west, we have a little re-enactment called the Pioneer Trek. It is supposed to keep the pioneer spirit alive as participants impose upon themselves the same hardships endured by their ancestors. In 2008, a 14-year-old girl and a 74-year-old man were killed when a man in a pick-up with the sun in his eyes plowed into the back of their handcart. This was a freak accident and could have happened even if the group were not ambling along the highway dressed as Pioneers. But people, REALLY, isn't there a better way to appreciate the pioneers? (I have a problem with imposed hardships - and that includes most reality shows). 

We all take risks. Some of us weigh the probable outcome of our actions more than others. I know that I am in my second wildhood. I do dumb things. Last year when I was standing on the roof of my cabin with a foot on each side of the peak, being all one with nature, I knew it was kinda dumb. As I wedged a huge piece of snow off the roof, the whole slab of snow whooshed down in one peice. As I quickly picked up my right foot, I muttered, "Oh shit."

As I was riding down the canyon later that day, semi-congratulating myself for removing the snow so quickly, the left front tire suddenly flew off my truck (seems the mechanic had forgotten to tighten the lug nuts correctly). I spun around several times and landed off the road and into the mountain. My weirdly calm thoughts as I was spinning: "So this is what it's like to die or get in a really bad accident." 

I guess a lot of my actions seem to invite death (according to my mother), but truth be told, I don't mind the idea of death at all. It's the next adventure.