In regard to the article about a grandmother ziplining [“Leap and the Net Will Appear,” May 14, Xpress], please allow me to boast. Last year, at the age of 70, I went ziplining at The Gorge, in Saluda, which is the most difficult course in the area. It consists of 11 lines, and the participant has no control over her speed. She goes slamming to a stop, which is provided by a braking system just yards from the platform. Let me add that doing this was entirely my own idea and was something I was wanting to do since I first heard of ziplining. AND after my initial fear wore off, I was pretty darned comfortable with the whole idea. No screaming from me. Only the bridge gave me some misgivings, which I slowly made my way across.
I have also walked on fire (three times), and next month I plan to go on a hot-air balloon ride. In the not-too-distant future, I hope, I will experience a lifetime ambition to skydive (in tandem), and very soon I hope to do another zipline course. One thing I will NOT do is go bungee jumping. It simply does not look like fun to me.
I am not a natural-born daredevil. Quite the contrary, as a child I was very fearful. I’ve become more daring as I’ve gotten older. Mostly, though, it’s about doing things I’ve never done before, experiencing as much of life as I possibly can.
Darlene Finch Wright
Leicester
