Why not … it all started with these two little words. Why not?
Flipping through the channels I saw it … flying high, legs hanging out in the wind, and parachute catching air. The Travel Channel. I saw it, briefly. It was on one of those top beaches shows. They managed to catch somebody parasailing in the background. And it took me back … Labor Day Weekend circa 1993.
On a spur of the moment decision my Dad hijacked Labor Day and decided that the Guat Family should head north to Santa Barbara. I don’t remember why my sister didn’t share this blessed two-hour traffic jammed hostile back-seat driver journey up north, but for some reason she was absent.
In any case we made it without pushing anyone out of the car while it was moving. Once we got there the relaxed laid-back atmosphere sort of washed over us and we forgot about the dysfunctional relationships linking us together. Our stay-cation had begun.
We strolled through town checking out the botanical gardens, churches, and cool artists’ festival they had that weekend. Before this I had no idea how awesome chalk on sidewalk could be, but it was pretty amazing to see all the colorful portraits and landscapes.
And then we headed to the beach … and that’s where we saw it. I had never seen anything like it. I had seen jet skiing , water skiing, and surfing. But I had never seen parasailing. We didn’t have the Travel Channel back then and if we did I wasn’t aware of it.
In any case I was in awe by the whole experience. When my dad asked me what I was looking at I pointed at the person flying high above the water and the boat pulling him away.
And then that’s when it started … my premature bucket list. I had no idea it was a bucket list at the time. It was more of the I-Wish-I-Could-Do-That-One-Day List. The list that remained unwritten, mostly a bunch of adventures and thoughts in my head, but this …this was the first one to be crossed off and I didn’t even know it at the time.
Photo credit: Wikipedia
“That looks cool. I think I’d like to do that one day.”
“Are you crazy?” My Dad asked.
“Yes. Yes I am.”
“Then I think we should do it,” my Dad said.
“Today?”
“Why not?”
And then there it was … the why not. This is where it all began.
Now it surprised me that he said “we.” Reason 1) He did not know how to swim, neither did I at the time. Reason 2) He was scared of heights, not deathly scared but pretty much freaking him out kind of scared.
But that didn’t stop him. He was an adventurer that day and so was I. My mom even came along for the ride, just to witness our crazy adventure, see our expressions and join in on the laughter.
For this adventure my Dad went first. He was eager to check this off the list. I think if he would have waited he might not have gone through with it. So when they asked, who’s first, he jumped up and strapped on that harness. When he was high up in the sky, he seemed to be enjoying the view. However when he was being pulled down into the boat he appeared to have a little anxiety and nervousness going on. It might have been the Pacific Ocean hanging out beneath him. But he smiled and laughed his way through it.
Me.
I did the whole woo-hoo! on the way up and on the way down. And even though this happened almost twenty years ago I can still remember saying ‘holy crap!’ when I was way up high.
Blue skies and white sandy beaches. We had plenty of those down in Southern California but from this perspective everything looked different.
After that stay-cation I had a lot more ideas rumbling around in my head … in my I-Wish-I-Could-Do-That-One-Day thoughts.
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The Wish Factor 
How cool that your dad went with you. Mine never would. And he couldn’t swim either. I had to take swim lessons when I was 4. My mom was a beach lover and we went to the beach all of the time. She insisted I either had to wear a life vest or learn how to swim. I learned how to swim. Life vests look so uncool when your other friends aren’t wearing them.
I wish you much success with your bucket list. It’s good to think outside of the box and to have dreams. If you don’t dream, what’t the point to getting up each day.
You crack me up … life vests are so not cool but now they come in different colors and they keep you afloat. 🙂 But you have a good point if you don’t dream what is the point of waking up?
I know I have some big dreams and I may not achieve them, but man I do love thinking about them and striving for them. I like the journey. That’s what I focus on…not the end.
was with you every step of the way here but the heightand water coupled together were a phobia too far. Fantastic narrative with all the thrills and spills – not such a dysfuntional family after all!!
Thanks for stopping by and enjoying the story. Height and water yeah my Dad had both of those but he ventured through it. Loved that spirit! And yeah I guess the parasailing knocked out all the dysfunction that day. 🙂
What a fantastic memory! I love it. You’re so brave, heights scare me silly, no way I could have done it!
I’m sure after a stiff drink you could’ve done it. 🙂
Maybe so! It does sound like a lot of fun, and I bet the view was fantastic 🙂
I also found it an amazing experience, and was so proud of myself for having done it at over 60 years of age. 🙂 It does set you up for doing other crazy things, as there’s not too much that’s crazier then that. 😆
Dude … I give you a full on WOO-HOO! for that one. Very proud of you and you’re right it does set you up for doing other crazy things. I’m getting to them one day at a time. But with all your adventures and pictures I see that you’re way ahead of the adventure game. I’m hoping to catch up because your photos are always amazing.
Waaaay to go Guat!
We are headed there next week and I will think of you above the ocean flying high!
Thanks! Sounds like a great wild ride adventure waiting to happen, can’t wait to read about it in your next post.
That’s one spectacular post… Made me think of little adventures with my pops. Thank you.
Thanks. Dad always was the adventurous type.
I salute you and your parents for experiencing life’s adventure in the most fun way. I almost got to ride one last Summer but I fell 2 days before and hurt my back. I wasn’t sure what happens if all of the sudden I will have back spasms while on air. I wish I had more courage…but there’s next time right? Fun post!
Thanks sometimes after all the craziness, we do end up getting it right. Too bad about your injury, but keep it in mind. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the adventure.
Awesome adventurous post. It’s becoming hard to tell this story as most people have at least one and the stories are the same. You did so well with the openings reeling your readers in.
Wait! Honestly, I didn’t catch what IT is exactly? Parachute? Parasailing? Hang gliding? Sorry I’m a little slow. 🙂
Thanks. I try to be a little different when telling it. Yeah parasailing is pretty cool. You’re up in the air, being kept in the sky by a parachute and being pulled by a speedboat at the same time. I forgot to include a photo. I couldn’t find the one we took that day.