What Would You Do If You Weren't Too Scared?

I would ask that Red Lobster waitress on a date.

Ha ha, I forgot about her, Chance. Have you seen her again at least?

Skydiving!

Broadway, baby!

Nope, haven't gone back. Went back twice and she wasn't there so I had to pay for linguini and lobster mashed potatoes in vain

That's a great question, Peggy!

I've acted out lots of risky fantasies during my life. Not because I was fearless but because I didn't have enough common sense to know that some fantasies should forever remain fantasies. Came out relatively unscathed for the most part but that was just dumb luck. But the stories I could tell!

OK, here's one: I've always wanted to hang glide along the coast, and I would have except that the dang thing is too heavy for me to hump back up the cliff after landing on the beach.

Nothing much scares me. Only people do. I've done dangerous things and loved it but ask me to walk into a nightclub, or room of people, and I'm terrified.

Move to Florida! If it wasn't for my family here and my daughter being in a good school, I'd move to Florida in a heartbeat. It's so hard for a photographer to survive where I am.

I feel the same, Abbie, but wasn't given a choice. My mother pushed me to perform publicly from the time I was really little. Up on stage alone at community events. Yikes! I don't think she was a stage mother - I think she recognized that I was horribly shy and thought this was a good way to push through it and get me socialized. We attended a birthday party for some neighbor kid when I was about 4. One of the kids refused to get out from under the table the whole time, and whenever any of the moms would try to physically extract him, he'd kick and bite. I think she was trying to keep me from becoming feral like him.

Whenever company came, I'd always bolt for the back door and into the woods before they could get inside. She learned to head me off at the pass, then she'd make me go ask whoever it was if they wanted cream and sugar in their coffee, then make me go serve them. I'm talking 5 or 6 years old! I hated it and would get nauseous just walking over to talk to them but I got over it. Now I can approach anyone about anything and never blink an eye, though I still don't like being around people if I can help it.

Becky, I realllly wanted to skydive when I was a teenager. My Mom is a big scaredy cat and talked me into at least waiting until I was out of the house. Now we've moved to a place where there's a sky diving club and they are at it constantly. I've kind of lost my desire now...I can see jumping out of a plane and throwing my back out or something, lol!

Good one, Lois! Make sure to invite us if you ever make it. What kind of thing would you like to do on Broadway or does it matter?

Aww, that's too bad, Chance. Can you just drop in for a coffee or something? (I've never been to a Red Lobster so I don't know the ropes...I don't think they have them in western Canada.) And do you think you would work up the nerve to ask her out if you did see her again?

Kathleen, I was a little tempted by hang gliding too. Then again, I happen to know somebody who broke his leg doing it. So maybe not.

That's interesting, Abbie. I'm not real big on the room full of people either but kind of forced myself enough times to do it and relax. Surprisingly, I've found doing yoga/breathing exercises regularly the past 9 months or so has helped a lot with social situations. I feel much more grounded and calm going into them now.

Jennifer, maybe you could plan a move to Florida in the not too distant future?

When I was in my early 30s I went through a phase of reading self help books. One of the ones that I remember as being helpful is Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. Matter of fact, maybe I should re-read it.

I would fly on an airplane again - I lost all my balance in 2017 when I came down with acute labyrinthitis (my cochlea contracted a virus and got scarred) so it has taken me up until now to regain about 85% of my balance back. I am afraid to fly because I am afraid the altitude and cabin pressure might throw me into the horrible vertigo I had. Other than that hang gliding would be awesome to do if I wasn't chicken!

I lived next to a popular hang gliding spot where people lined up to step off the cliff. I loved to watch them step off and soar. Looked like the ultimate freedom and it was a particularly beautiful stretch of coastline. Some of the pros could go for miles. And some slammed into the cliff and died. I was itching to do it but was bummed when I found out that everyone, regardless of gender, is responsible for getting their own kite back up the cliff. Wasn't like when you have a flat tire and simply hitch your skirt to show a bit of knee. Dang.

Kathleen, when I lived in California in my childhood, we lived about a mile from the foothills in above Sylmar and that was a big hang gliding area in the 70's. We would see the hang gliders flying around over our houses high in the sky. We only heard of a few crashing into the hills. My Dad's friend was a big hang glider guy and he did pretty good, no crashes for him. I wish I would have tried it then, I was a fearless teenager then. haha!

I wish I had too, Gaby. I probably could have managed to drag the kite up. Too decrepit now.

See, that slamming into a cliff and dying would be a bit of a deterrent for me. Maybe I'll write a book called "Feel the Fear and Don't Ever Do It".

If at first, you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.

Get a ride in an open cockpit Stearman bi-plane. Not that it really takes any more bravery but I was scheduled to fly in one for my birthday some years ago, but it had to make a forced landing in a corn field the day before. Fortunately no fatalities, but significant damage. Never really wanted to go after that, but now I'm thinking maybe I should give it a try.

@Chance, did you at least get her name? Maybe go back and ask when her next shift is? I can think of a time or two if I'd only had the guts to step out of my comfort zone and ask, only to lament later that I'll probably never see her again...

@Debra! LOL

Wow Gaby, you must have experienced the Sylmar Earthquake 1971. Now THAT was scary! Threw me right out of my bed!!

I've not held back in life, I've done a lot of risky activities & taken a lot of hurts. Fear never held me back, instead it dared me.

My only regret in life is having done too much & my physical body is paying the price for it now (good memories though).

Peggy, you had a good reaction to your comedy, what is there to fear? Do it!

Never ask out a waitress.

Dave Bridburg Bridburg.com Postmodernism Art Gallery

Peggy, Red Lobster is a chain sit-down restaurant that specializes in seafood. It's kind of a fancy interior (not too fancy) but isn't really a place to get coffee. I suppose I could show up just to get salad and biscuits but I don't think I would have the nerve to ask her out because I am a wuss - and she is quite the catch, so she's probably taken by now. Lol

David, there was a backstory from the old "Mike's in Charge" thread. I went to Red Lobster once and after I paid we talked for an hour. She kept asking me to come back when she was working because she wanted to see me again. I could have asked her out then but wussed out, adhering to the "never ask out a waitress" adage and regret it. It kind of became a running gag here.

Yep, I saw that thread, might have been in it.

Never ask a waitress out.

Dave Bridburg Bridburg.com Postmodernism Art Gallery

"What Would You Do If You Weren't Too Scared?"

I would wait until someone was buzzed inside at Interior Designer's Kelly Wearstler's office on La Cienega Boulevard and would go upstairs and ask to speak to her and show her my portfolio.

Maybe one day...

Yes, Carlin, that was doozy! I won't ever forget that one. Sounded like a freight train came down our driveway and shook our house wildly, we fell out of bed too!

Carlin and Gaby: I was in the shower when the earthquake hit. Thinking that it was an Atomic bomb that had dropped, I ran out and threw my body over the baby's bassinet until the shaking stopped.

"Chuck... the baby's in our bed nursing," said my wife.

I felt so foolish, standing there naked and dripping water.

Maybe she'll be that "one who got away", Chance. There has to be one in everyone's life.

I used to think about a boy from school. We never went out. He was super shy but I know he liked me. The blush and stammer were a dead giveaway. He was the serious, quiet type, tall and thin with the prettiest blue eyes, and always a gentleman. Once in a while I'd think, what if? If you don't know someone well, they can be whoever you want them to be, at least in your own mind. I decided that he'd become a professor, a scientist, or some type of scholarly professional. He had that demeanor back when. And he had an unusual name so one day I googled him to see what he looks like now. And there was his photo along with his obituary. He'd been a long-haul trucker with a huge beer gut and a greasy baseball cap. Sweet closure.

My ex-grandma in law in loved it. My X and I would go see her and say "you wanna get Red Lobster?" and she would take us every time. I also proposed to that X wife at that Red Lobster... lol

Oh Chance , it is never too late to invest in things that may be good for the rest of your life.

Drop off a post card of one of your paintings.
One that reminds you of her - a simple " thought you would enjoy this - it made me think of you. Stopped by a few times to say Hello - but you were not there."

Now, she either enjoys it - or she does not. Gives her a reason to look you up - & track you down - if she wants.
And worst case scenario someone decided to hang up your postcard by the cash register in Red Lobster.

Peggy this is a wonderful thread . Really great way to converse with others on their wishes and Hopes.

I really can't think of an answer these past few days of what I would do....
I do really want to go Hot air Ballooning - it's not me who is scared .
I'm sure I can get my son to go with me, but he has young ones so I do not feel right enticing him in to something that could be potentially dangerous.

Kathleen you crack me up.
Those days of " showing a little leg" and getting some assistance - have turned in to showing a little leg and an Orthopedic looks over the x-rays and hands you a cane.

I always like your suggestions, Janine. I think that's a great idea. I'm glad you're enjoying the thread.

Generally speaking, JC's comments about asking out a lot of women are right on track because what's happening is you're conditioning yourself to not feel fear by repeatedly putting yourself in the situation that has caused you fear. Eventually you become more immune to those feelings of stress and fear the more you expose yourself to it. Let's face it, we are very capable of making mountains out of molehills when it comes to a psychological fear.

Chance

It was not meant as an insult. I do not think you are a stalker. That said I would be careful about over showing up

Dave

That is an interesting idea Janine. Possibly a good marketing tactic too. One of these days I may fess up and head over there.

Very true Peggy.

Thanks Dave. I didn't think you meant it as that.

Sometimes someone who is very 'dry' has a very large sense of humor.

LOL, JC you made my week! Some of the things you said earlier. You would be a hoot on the laugh circuit. If you seriously prepared to do an hour, you would quickly get to that point. You're better than you think you are. You just talk and you're funny. You remind me of my Uncle who was that way too. He'd just open his mouth and say hilarious things. You have to be like the comedian who said he apologized his way through but that's because he could! We need people like you and Peggy.

Thanks Suzanne! I think I could come up with an hours worth of material pretty easily and actually have almost that. Going pro in the comedy world requires a LOT of travel though and it wouldn't mix well with my day job. That and I traveled a lot in the past and prefer being home with my wife and dog. It is fun to do now and then though. I used to have a ten minute routine on YouTube but took it down when I was job hunting a few years back. I am not sure if employers would appreciate a ten minute routine about peeing next to Shaq. (True story of course...)

Janine, hot air ballooning isn't so dangerous it should be a worry about bringing your son. In all seriousness, driving to the balloon place is more dangerous and you should go if that is something you have always wanted to do. Ballooning is fairly well regulated by the FAA so there are a lot of safety protocols in place.

Believe it or not, the sky diving industry does a nice job of self regulating and has myriad safety protocols as well. It is inherently more dangerous than a balloon by it's nature of course and the jumper him or herself has to learn some stuff as opposed to being a passenger. Stuff like bungee jumping is less so and as such more dangerous. I used to teach a mountaineering practical when I was in college and safety was always the first rule. IF one follows safety protocol a lot of stuff that seems dangerous can be a lot less so than one would think.

When I met JC and we were driving around Austin outskirts showing me the sites, he had me literally hiccuping with hysterics.

I'm sure he thought I was crazy.

Bungee jumping means totally rattling your brains. No thanks.

Last I knew in the near future, I might need my brains for something.

Dave Bridburg Bridburg.com Postmodernism Art Gallery

Did he show you DK Royal Memeorial Stadium, home of the Longhorns (college football team), Abbie?

I'll throw out a "Hook Em" simply for the hilarious fashion they beat the Nubraska Cornholes in the 2009 Big12 championship game. I think that was the moment that sent them fleeing to the Big 10.

I grew up in Wyoming so I'm a big Wyoming fan. They really have no rivalry but there are so many obnoxious Nebraska fans around there still that I grew to dislike them and liked anyone Nebraska despised. So I started rooting for Colorado and Texas especially. Sorry for this tangent, I'm a college football nut. I always think of the Texas Longhorns whenen I think of Austin. Never actually been there. It's on my bucket list though.

Oh, I am a college football FANATIC. I went to Auburn so that is where my main loyalty and fanaticism goes but I do have an adopted Texas team. Unfortunately I did not have the time to drive Abbie all the way to College Station and show her Kyle Field. Long Horns? Hmmmmmpppppphhhhhh

(Quick image insert into a non image thread.)

WHOOOP

Ohhhhhh, I like the new format!

I do like Auburn too because of their ability now and then to take down the Fighting Sabans at the worst time and keep them out of the national championship picture! That Kick 6 in 2013 was the moment of the decade, hands down.

I don't mind A&M either, their crowds are absolutely insane. Would love to see a game there too!

I want to see your video, JC! How about putting it back up now that you aren't job hunting anymore?

Football...sorry, but yawwwwwwn!

I went to the UofH

eaTme

As we used to say.

Go Cogars!!

Dave Bridburg Bridburg.com Postmodernism Art Gallery

edit: caught a few games in the old Astrodome.

Fighting Sabans, HAHAHAHAHAHA!

I would have put it back up but it came from a hard drive from a time long ago in a land far away and doubt I could find it.

JC I bet your routine is hilarious. In college many encouraged me to do a comedy show but I never did. My humor is kind of off the cuff and on the fly. I have some hilarious stories but I don't know how I'd do on a stage.

I did used to have a video series where I played an absolutely crazy football coach. I did an episode that was a fake sports radio interview with a lot of bleeping, a practice with a couple of players and lot of yelling, and a day in the life special where I practiced playing a vuvuzela, got a hernia lifting a 10 lb dumbbell, and struggling to open a can of tuna. Took all that down out of the same fear of what employers would think. Haha

So circling back to Peggy's original topic, if I wasn't scared I'd do comedy routine too

Really? That's wild, Chance. I wonder how many comedians we have lurking about here.

I've been told that I'm like a female version of Jim Carrey. I don't really know how to take that! I guess it's because my style of humor is more wrapped up in my physicality rather than telling jokes. I like to develop characters. Maybe I'd be better suited to a sitcom, ha!

I am far too dry.......

Dave Bridburg Bridburg.com Postmodernism Art Gallery

Yep, Peggy.

I have always thought it would be super fun to be on a sitcom

I'd be Fish from Barney Miller. I crack my jokes dry with a straight face.

Ha ha, now that I'd like to see, Janine! Except you're much better looking than Fish. :-)

Maybe we should all start a sitcom of artists on FAA? I can see it now, lol!

That is a stellar idea Peggy!

I nominate Bill "BS" Stephens to be our star.

Dave

Ok I dont like to talk too much about my self but just a little bit.
I was never really scared of things. I have to give that credit to my mom and dad , they were always positively supported me and encouraged me to do the thigs I wanted to do. Some time I was too difficult for them lol .
Any way to make this short I have achieved everything I wanted to. The funny part is when I achieve something then I become board and I want to move on to other interests or challenges.
I am challenging my self learning Spanish language now. I did learn a few languages in the past however.
The scary thing I did really wasn't scary at all at the end. When I turned 60 less than 2years ago, I went ahead and pay the price in PV Mexico and Jump off the air plane, Sky diving.. that was very cool and enjoyed it.
I wish my parents were there to see it.
Life is good , no fear :) no regret !!
No fear of people either . Have been in 43 countries and I am in Colombia now for almost 4 months.
I do go to night clubs and dance. Taking salsa lessons.
People are cool, the way I see, it's a mirror image.

Tony, I really like your outlook, especially the bit about "it's a mirror image". I'll bet you don't read the news much either...that would cut down on the fear factor quite a bit.

I'd also like to learn Spanish but it isn't something I'm afraid of. It's more about a lack of time for me.