Time of my LIFE!

I have never been on a zip line though I've seen photos of a number of my friends who did the zip line canopy tour in Costa Rica.  And I really want to do that some day.  So when a friend of mine mentioned she'd be in the area and they were going on a zip line canopy tour, and invited me... I GOT EXCITED!

I couldn't decide which gadget to take.  The phone that takes fuzzy photos if I'm jittery (and I was sure I WOULD BE jittery) or the old unreliable camera that I wouldn't mind loosing. 

My hostess, one of my very best friends in college.  I haven't seen her in approximately 17 or 18 years. 

We started the course with a little training session and some fun little obstacle course type things. 

Jody was getting ready to fly, that's me behind the guide in yellow.

Two of the best guides ever, these two were amazing.  We were laughing the whole time!

Me on top of the world.  I was terrified but they didn't give us time to stop and think about anything, just move, move, move.  And it was SO exhilarating! 

This just goes to show that there was never a serious moment, the whole time.  He was a RIOT!

That's me showing good form.  I'm not spinning, which means I'm doing a good job steering.  That hand in the air is ready to brake if I started coming into one of the bases too quickly.  And I won't tell you how  many times I was yelled at for doing it wrong but it didn't matter.  Your body has instincts that aren't consistant with good flying form.  So... I did learn how to do it and I was pretty pleased with myself!

That's me flying.  I can't begin to describe what a rush that is!

They called this one "The Step of Faith."  I figured that each time I'd stepped into thin air up there in the sky I was making a step of faith.  I was up there on that platform in the sky, and I stepped off that platform like it was the most natural thing in the world.  Did the falling and the landing quite nicely.  Actually, they thought it would be fun to dangle me while the guy at the bottom spun me.  I was laughing so hard I could barely yell "Hey, don't mess with the white girl!"

View from the top.  When I look at this photo I can almost feel that platform swaying under my feet and the wind in my hair and that exhilaration feeling I had up there.  I still can't believe I did it, I was certainly scared.  But it was SO MUCH FUN!

One of these days I'm going to do that canopy tour in Costa Rica!

If you ever get the chance to take a zip line tour, do it!

Living full tilt and loving very moment,

-Carmen Rose

Remember and Reflect

Two years ago a student opened fire on students at Virginia Tech.  I remember those weeks following that shooting, my heart went out to the friends and families of those who died.  I also thought of students who had to find some way of making a normal life for themselves in a place where they'd experienced trauma, pain and fear.  These are two drawings that I created at that time, one was published in place of the editorial cartoon in our local paper.  It is difficult to understand what could have happened in the heart of a man that he'd be willing to cause this kind of pain.  Very sad indeed.  My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones and a sense of peace on that day two years ago.  I'm sure there are days when it feels like only yesterday.

"Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy on us"

Blessings,

-Carmen Rose