miss-behaved.net

So only half of my pictures on Flickr really tell the story that is my Texas vacation. I faced my fears, I defied gravity, I completed some of my 101 Things. But since I forgot to bring my new camera’s battery charger with me, I had a limited window that I could take pictures. So I saved it for the mostly important things. Oh, did you know they don’t have sweet tea in Texas? How ass-backwards is that?!

Charles came along with me (no surprise there), and we visited my family, most of whom I haven’t seen in about six years. We went to Six Flags for about twelve hours one day, but we also went to the JFK Museum on another, and I purchased a reprint of one of the newspapers that announced his death. (I want to start collecting those too!) Then the Dallas World Aquarium, where most of my pictures take place. And — here’s the big one — Zero Gravity. Oh my God, Zero Gravity. I am terrified of heights, if you haven’t learned already. Terrified. But we did all five thrill rides, surprisingly: the free fall (”Nothin’ But Net”), the Skyscraper (with Charles), the Texas Blast Off (with Charles), the Skycoaster (with Charles), and the bungee jump.

Bungee jumping doesn’t seem hard. In fact, we thought it would be the easiest thing. But, to be honest, it’s the hardest. On everything else, someone else lets you go, drops you, or lifts you up (in the Skycoaster, but you rip your own cord). On the bungee jump, you have to climb the stairs yourself and leap off the edge yourself. Being terrified of heights, I couldn’t fathom jumping off a ledge like that willingly — and in fact, I almost backed out. You’re told to cross your arms and jump, but I kept crossing and uncrossing my arms. I nearly jump off and catch myself, but I eventually suck it up and just lean forward.

Charles, on the other hand, got to do it twice, for free. We got videos of us bungee jumping, and she didn’t film him the first time, so he got to do it a second time for the camera. And he looks so ballsy, ’cause he just jumps off the second time with no hesitation.

I am so glad I was able to go down to Texas and see my family, especially since it’s been so long. Texas will always be home to me.