Tuesday, August 14, 2007
More on that Camel Ride
One of the things I try hard to do is not show fear or let Mary feel my fear. I just do not want to influence her against trying new things. If she gets to be fearful about something then its because she has experienced it and has cause to be fearful!
The camel ride at the fair. Normally, I would not have been so gung-ho about going on it myself. Val, my youngest sister, who had gone to Dubai as a contract worker, recently sent me an email about her own camel adventure. She had the chance to go on a REAL camel ride on a REAL desert and she did not take it. I told her that she should go for these experiences when they present themselves, no one else in the family would have the opportunity!
Well, there was my camel. No other thought was in my mind. I knew Mary Esther would go for it--- she has been on ponies and horses and she goes on any amusement park ride that would allow her... I had to go on it if only to show Val how easy it is to seize the moment and go for the adventure.
So we paid the $10 fee (it was $5 per person/per ride). The saddle is a two-seater and as I was getting behind Mary Esther, I realized "8 feet is a lot high off the ground." Still no fear... Then I got settled onto the seat, the saddle seat is a nice polished leather, very smooth and SLIPPERY! I could go sideways and just slide right off this camel! I was looking for some kind of seat belt--- there were none! For a split second, panic was setting in...
But Mary Esther was sitting right in front of me. She had her back to me but I know she would be able to feel my fear if I let on. So, I held on fast to the handles and just asked, "Mary, are you holding on tight? Make sure you are holding on with both hands!!!" Then, the camel was led out and started moving. (Mary: "This is Fun!!!" Mom, muttering to herself, quietly: "Hold on tight. Hold on tight...") It was only going a short distance- about half a block and back, probably no more than 5 minutes. I wished I could have gotten off--- again, I did not want Mary to get scared herself--- so I stayed on. By the time, we had turned around and on our way back, I was having fun! The smile I had on my face as we passed by Jack on the ground was real.
Was I sad that the ride was over? No.
Will I do it again? No. But MARY WOULD.
The camel ride at the fair. Normally, I would not have been so gung-ho about going on it myself. Val, my youngest sister, who had gone to Dubai as a contract worker, recently sent me an email about her own camel adventure. She had the chance to go on a REAL camel ride on a REAL desert and she did not take it. I told her that she should go for these experiences when they present themselves, no one else in the family would have the opportunity!
Well, there was my camel. No other thought was in my mind. I knew Mary Esther would go for it--- she has been on ponies and horses and she goes on any amusement park ride that would allow her... I had to go on it if only to show Val how easy it is to seize the moment and go for the adventure.
So we paid the $10 fee (it was $5 per person/per ride). The saddle is a two-seater and as I was getting behind Mary Esther, I realized "8 feet is a lot high off the ground." Still no fear... Then I got settled onto the seat, the saddle seat is a nice polished leather, very smooth and SLIPPERY! I could go sideways and just slide right off this camel! I was looking for some kind of seat belt--- there were none! For a split second, panic was setting in...
But Mary Esther was sitting right in front of me. She had her back to me but I know she would be able to feel my fear if I let on. So, I held on fast to the handles and just asked, "Mary, are you holding on tight? Make sure you are holding on with both hands!!!" Then, the camel was led out and started moving. (Mary: "This is Fun!!!" Mom, muttering to herself, quietly: "Hold on tight. Hold on tight...") It was only going a short distance- about half a block and back, probably no more than 5 minutes. I wished I could have gotten off--- again, I did not want Mary to get scared herself--- so I stayed on. By the time, we had turned around and on our way back, I was having fun! The smile I had on my face as we passed by Jack on the ground was real.
Was I sad that the ride was over? No.
Will I do it again? No. But MARY WOULD.
