Never Would I Ever...

 "I know this isn’t scientific, but this ship’s warning me she’s gonna die and take a lot of people with her." -Thomas Andrews, Managing Director of Harland and Wolff Shipyards, Builders of the Titanic

On June 18, 2023, the experimental submersible, Titan, suffered a catastrophic implosion during its descent to view the wreckage of the Titanic on the ocean floor. Five more souls joined those who went down with that original "unsinkable" ship. The only mercy was that the implosion would have been instantaneous, with no time for panic or terror like those on the doomed ocean liner suffered. As a musician, I'm always moved by thoughts of the band members who continued to play, trying to calm those who didn't make it into a lifeboat,  while Titanic's deck slanted downward and the great ship sank. 

But the related disasters have caused lots of after-action hand-wringing. There should be more regulations, some say. Why would anyone take chances like that? Surely that sort of experience isn't worth the risk.

However, throughout history nothing has been accomplished without risk. There is a long list of inventors who were killed by their creation, among them Marie Curie who discovered radium, and Francis Stanley, who died in a crash of his steam-driven "Stanley Steamer" automobile. 

And what of those Type T explorers? Gus Grissom and Christa McAuliff reminded us that space travel might have become more routine, but it is not safe. If no one was willing to brave the North Atlantic in sailing ships in the 1600's, my family would still live in England. And all of us have realized that sitting in our easy chairs during the pandemic can be just as deadly as seemingly riskier behaviors.  

All that said, when I travel, I do tend to channel Goofy, my favorite Disney character, because he famously once said, "I'm brave, but I'm careful!"  

Not that we haven't done some adventurous things in our younger years. The DH earned his private pilot's license and we flew all over the American West, weaving our way through the mountain passes and zipping over the plains. We saw a barracuda (a really big one!) while snorkeling in the Bahamas. I got caught in a rip tide in Hawaii but managed to keep my head and swim parallel to the beach until I was out of it. I wandered Tokyo and the capitals of Europe solo, using public transit and my winning smile to get me where I wanted to be.   

But that was then. It's easy to get caught up in the spirit of adventure while traveling and take chances and make choices we wouldn't in our everyday life. So, here are a few things I will never do:

• Skydive--No need to bail on a perfectly good airplane.
• Bungee Jump--The feeling of impending doom has never called to me.
• Parasail--There are easier, and more fun, ways to get a thrill.
• Swim in the ocean--See the above mentioned barracuda and episode with the rip tide. Those happened when I was a strong swimmer in the pink of health. I'm definitely a paddling around in a sheltered cove girl now.
• Book an excursion labeled "Demanding."--It's important to know your limits, not just for yourself but for others as well. My friend once booked a hike through the rainforest, knowing she needed knee replacement surgery soon but thinking she could make it. Unfortunately, she couldn't. She was miserable, in pain, and slowed down the whole group. They weren't able to complete the entire tour itinerary due to time constraints caused by her debility. She was not voted Miss Popularity. 
• Hop willy-nilly into a cab in a foreign port--Without making sure the driver knows where I want to go, has told me what the fare will be and whether I can pay with American dollars or the local currency. Sadly, there have been lots of  scams perpetrated using credit cards.
• Try to be the last passenger back on the ship before it sails--Some feel the need to squeeze every drop of time from every port. I would not do well as a "pier runner."
• Slide down a water slide--The last time I did this on a Carnival ship, I was unable to draw breath during the twists and turns. It had never occurred to me that my weakened lungs would be unable to function at all if I threw in an extra G or so. 

And yet, it's hard for me to say "never." In fact, there is a place I'd love to see on our Queen Anne WC in Malaysia called the Batu Caves. It's a famous Hindu shrine about a half hour away from Kuala Lumpur. The only drawback is that it involves climbing 272 stairs. 

However, I have 568 days and a plan. More about that later...

So how about you? What would you never ever do? What do you wish you could try?