You Only Live Once

I can say this with absolute certainty. I would not have made it as a pioneer woman. My scrawny decaying carcass would be found belly glued to the ground paralysed with fear right outside of town. So perhaps this gives you the idea that I opt for safety over danger every chance I get. Cautious, careful, not exactly risk taking. So we know I'm not the female version of Indiana Jones.

But - and there is always a but......you only live once. I had the opportunity yesterday, while decorating at the museum (which originally was a railroad station), to go up to the attic. Now, I don't really have any fond memories of attics in my life experience. There was that attic at home. Mom used to have to really, really nag my Dad to go up there. Maybe he didn't like attics either. Attics are just ugly, dark, scary crawl spaces you store stuff you don't need, but can't part with.

So, did I want to go up in an attic? Here is where we apply the "you only live once" motto. So I said yes. Distance from said museum floor to ceiling is 45'. Yes, 45 feet. And the attic is on top of that. Hmmmmm, no elevator either. There were two normal flights of steps. Not so bad I could handle that. The rest of the way up was nearly straight up on what was basically ladders. I got part way up and said....I don't think I can do this. Granted I had lots of encouragement that said yes I could. The next flight involved more cursing and yet more encouragement. The only reason I didn't turn back was because I'd have to go down alone - and that didn't sound like anything I could do either. Yes, I made it up to the top, to the crawl space of catwalks over the ceiling. I wasn't so thrilled with that area either. But, in retrospect, it was pretty cool. We even went one flight further which gave us access to the roof. I viewed the roof and the spectacular view of the city from the safety of the ladder. I didn't want to risk letting go of the death grip I had on the ladder. Again this would be a good time to say thanks to my coworkers who kept me going. It was pretty awesome.

Going down was easier, mostly I think because each step meant if I fell it was a shorter distance than before. And let me tell you, today my thigh's are a tad bit sore from that climb. All in all, I'm delighted I applied the "you only live once" motto. Life offers amazing opportunities, and attics can be one of them.