Sky Diving

Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What If? Writing Exercise for Fiction Writers prompts

The Exercise - Using the first person, describe an event or action you are fairly sure you will never experience firsthand. Be very specific - the more details you incorporate the more likely it is that your reader will believe you. Include your feelings and reactions. Limit: 550 words.

The Objective - Writing what you know is all very well, but it certainly does restrict most of us within narrow confines. You must also be able to write what you don't know, but can imagine. This is what your imagination is for. Let it fly.

When I was in counseling in 1984, I had a counselor who asked that I put together a list of things I wanted to do in recovery. I had already been in recovery since 1978, so I was pretty well along with my stuff I was doing to keep me on the straight and narrow.

So, because I was struggling with what to put on my list, she suggested I ask others in the group I was in. The group consisted of both male and female adults of all ages. I was to try to come up with 100 things for my list. She said it was because I already had time in and she thought I could do it.

Others had to do a list of 50 things. Not fair, but I went about writing my list and would occasionally ask someone. When the assignment was almost due, I got busy and asked some of the guys. I fully intended to do everything on the list in my aftercare plan. At least that is what my counselor was recommending.

So the day came, and I had my list complete, and she said, "Good job! I really didn't expect you to get it done!" Then she proceeded to say, "Do you know why I gave you a list of 100 things?" I thought she explained it pretty well.

But no, it was a trick as she then said, "I know you have trouble asking for help of any kind, so I thought this would be a way for you to do just that!" Wow, it blew my mind. I have trouble asking for help. Me? Yes! That has been true my entire life until that was made really clear.

Now you can ask my husband if that is still true? Not! He would say.

The list had things like tractor pull, mud runs, car races of many different kinds, downhill skiing, golfing, a cruise, Boundary Waters canoe area trips, and skydiving. I've done almost everything. All 99 things on my list. And somethings on my list happened many times. Everything except skydiving.

Over the last forty-one years, I have said, I will do that when I'm an old lady and can be strapped to a hunky guy and that is how I will complete my list. Then, a few years ago, I broke an arm. So now I know I can break. Recently I fell in my bedroom, and got an roadrash bruise on my knee and forearm.

Our youngest daughter, knowing about my list, suggested I go with a recovery group, and she said everyone has to be strapped to someone for their first jump. Today, I am no longer interested in going skydiving. I will leave my list at 99 things. It is just way too scary to consider anymore!

Not in a million years will I do that.

Of course, I could be on a plane that is going down, and then I may be willing to try to parachute out. You don't hear many of those instances, however, so that would be a once-in-a-million happening.