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| New Year snow in Phoenix |
According to Lady Byrd Johnson, “When I no longer feel the enchantment of the initial snowfall, I’ll know my youthful spark is fading.” That scenario remains distant as I reject aging, especially since Phoenix lacks snow. Nevertheless, at a New Year’s gathering north of Phoenix, my spouse and I encountered a miraculous event – snowfall! A decade has passed, and the phenomenon hasn’t recurred, but the excitement remains vivid in our memories.
I have a fondness for inaugural experiences like that and always seek more, unaffected by age. Embrace opportunities to encounter rare, unforeseen, and even daunting situations. As someone once mentioned, “If it both excites and frightens you, it’s likely worth pursuing.” Such endeavors will undoubtedly provide a thrilling first-time encounter.
Stimulating and Terrifying
Festivities were on hold in Yukon’s Dawson City as I awaited the magical display of the Northern Lights, only to be left disappointed. Sensing my dejection, my devoted husband decided to lift my spirits. Opting for a journey to the Arctic Circle via the Dempster Highway, a more arduous route than the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks, Alaska, we embarked on a daring adventure. Despite concerns about our aged Class C motorhome navigating the desolate gravel road with minimal support stops, we pressed on. Soon, the distinctive autumnal panorama unfolded before our eyes, a sight to behold at Tombstone Territorial Park. Though the cold wind chilled us to the bone, the journey was undeniably worth every shiver! While the Northern Lights eluded me then (subsequently spotted on a trip to Anchorage), the substitution was an even more exhilarating experience!
Challenging and Untested
A pivotal moment arose just two months later when I confronted a childhood fear that had lingered unresolved. Although the Philippines seemed like the ideal setting, I deemed it a daunting endeavor for someone like myself. During a visit to Falls Church, Virginia, my husband coaxed me into attempting a feat I had never dared before – flying a kite at a breezy Virginia Beach. The thrill of soaring the kite overwhelmed us so much that we forgot to capture it on camera.
The newfound skill in flying kites not only enhanced my enjoyment of two towns on the West Coast but also enabled me to revel in the splendors of the World Kite Museum and Hall of Fame in Long Beach, Washington. A stroke of luck led us to the World Kite Festival in Seaside, Oregon, where we marveled at both outdoor and indoor competitions.
However, mastering the art of biking still eludes me. And by biking, I certainly do not mean the stationary one at the gym.
Enjoyable yet Hazardous
A year later, I relived the rush of a novel experience at the World Waterpark within Edmonton, Alberta’s West Edmonton Mall, the fourth-largest shopping complex globally. Corkscrew, an intermediate water slide with twisting enclosed slides, culminating in a broad splash pool, became the stage for my daring feat. Despite my inability to swim and fear of deeper waters, my husband’s promise to await my descent imbued me with courage. Plunging down the slide, especially as darkness loomed, instilled a profound sense of isolation and apprehension of drowning upon surfacing. Yet, as I emerged, there was my husband, ready to reassure me, “See how effortless and enjoyable it was?” His support bestowed upon me another precious moment in life.
Several pioneering experiences have unfolded since then, with hopes for many more, regardless of advancing age. Having a steadfast supporter by your side is key to these endeavors. In my case, it was my husband. Although, as Steven White once humorously remarked, “If skydiving isn’t your cup of tea at first attempt, it probably never will be.” Therefore, skydiving remains off the table for my pursuit of inaugural thrills!