Sundance

I have wanted to go on the zipline at Sundance for a while, so when they had a deal on Halloween Ziptours, I recruited my roommates, bought four tickets online and booked it for the day before Halloween. Hallows Eve. Perfect.

We had to reschedule due to my own stupidity and another roommate's dinner date. We ended up getting in on the next tour, but had to pay $10 each to reschedule. Oh well.

After getting the gear on, awkwardly not being able to tighten the straps around my chest and bum, we put the 20 pound backpacks on and headed for the lift. The ski lift was really pretty, even though it was dark. They had some random spooky scenes below the lift, like skeleton/aliens, a traveling circus, voo doo, clowns. Only one person popped out to scare me, so it was just my scare-level; LOW.

Looking down at Sundance was like looking down at the Christmas village from A Nightmare Before Christmas. 

We (Ellis, Emmy, Sierra and Gentry and I) did the 50 foot practice run, where I bounced down the cable, pulling it to a stop every 2 seconds.

Then it was time! The cables had lights shining down them, and in their glow, I saw snow falling. It looked like millions of little snowflakes. Not the random fluff you usually get, the Grinch-style snowflakes that sparkle and swirl. It was beautiful!  

It was pretty high up and all I could think while the girl was preparing the harness and pulley was Okay how long did they train you, you know my life is in your hands right?? 

And then they passed me through and off I went! At first, it was like sticking your head out the window of a speeding car. The wind took my breath away and I had a horrifying moment of "Oh my gosh I'm going to suffocate going down this zipline! Why didn't anyone tell me? I'm going to die!"

But then I slowed down, caught my breath and enjoyed it. I was flying over trees, down a mountain, through the night air. After finally figuring out I could pull it down more to full speed, I tried it and zoomed past a group of pines. It was exhilarating and gorgeous and fleeting. I tried to enjoy it fully, but I don't think you can ever feel like you really enjoyed anything completely. I'm learning how fleeting life is too. 

We prepared in heaven to come here, just like I prepared for ziplining, then all the sudden, you're doing it. You're born! You're on the Earth, no going back. You might have moments you don't think you can do it, but then you slow down, realize you can and keep going, full force. And then it's all over.

And you wonder how much you really enjoyed it.

So on the way home, I tried to soak it all in. The loud music, the rocking out in the car, the feeling of being independent and in college. This is a time in my life I'll never get again. When I showed some hesitation on the 50 ft zipline. the girl was like "You are a strong, independent woman!" And I was like "Ya I am!!" Because, I mean, I kind of am. I know I still need other people's help and I can't do everything by myself, but I'm learning how to be an adult and learning how I can constantly mold myself into the person I want to be. 

So bring on the loud music and homework and deadlines and decisions and adventures and friendships. I got this. I'm a strong, independent woman and I don't want to miss the fleeting moments.