We're Not Looking for Danger, Adventure Might Be Hazardous

Sam and I don’t go looking for adventure. If it comes our way fine, otherwise nada. I probably was raised to be somewhat adventure resistant by my mother because she always seemed afraid to let me do anything. I’d say, “Mom?” getting ready to ask her if I could do something, and she’d immediately say, “No,” without even hearing what I wanted to do. I hope I’m not like that with Sam. OMG! That would be terrible.

I don’t understand people who go looking for adventure, especially dangerous adventure where they know full well they could get killed. I remember recently seeing on the television news a story about these two guys climbing El Capitan at Yosemite without ropes or harnesses. A fall would have meant certain death. I don’t understand people who walk tightropes between skyscrapers or ride barrels over Niagara Falls or that sort of thing either. As far as I was concerned, Evel Knievel was a total idiot to attempt jumping over the Grand Canyon.

Don’t get me wrong. I like adventure, just gentler adventures. I’ve been involved in adventures where I could have lost my life – several times – and it’s okay with me if I never experience those again. I’ve chased people speeding in excess of 100 mph. I was nearly run over as I was putting flares out at an accident scene. I had a guy threaten to kill me and he might have made good on his threat but his gun fell out of his pants. I like playing golf too although it too can be hazardous to my health (I had a cart flip over on me once). I’ve had an ATV flip over on me. But I’ve never swam with sharks or kissed a rattlesnake or anything like that. I’ve done lots of adventurous things (spelled STUPID) but never adventurous enough to get me killed. And I’m not going to let anything bad happen to Sam either.

But people are so silly. Another article in Sunday’s paper told a story about people going on expeditions to view polar bears in their native habitat, where the people could very likely be viewed as food. Yuh huh! Qouth a guide, “You may think polar bears are cute, but they are lethal.” Personally Sam and I are not in a snit to get up close and personal with something that could eat us. Same with whales. Why the heck can’t people leave whales alone? I’m sure I read a story recently where some yahoos were drowned because a whale overturned their boat. Naturally, they weren’t wearing life jackets. People get mauled by “cute” lions too. All in the name of adventure.

One sad story in the paper tells how these young Ukrainian guys with families volunteered to fight with pro-Russian separatists. They did it primarily for the money, but they probably thought too that they were embarking on a great adventure. Ever read Red Badge of Courage, about the Civil War” Those Ukrainian guys are dead now and the Russians won’t give their widows any of the pay they earned. Big adventure huh?

Who needs dangerous adventures when the pilot of your plane might just drive it into a mountain top or the middle of the deepest ocean? No dangerous adventures for Sam and me, thanks! At least not on purpose.