On Saturday, the guys wanted to go up in the 'Sears' Tower. It's now called the Willis tower, but no one really knows what that is. Most people know when they hear Sears Tower what I'm talking about. The line to get in was extremely long. It was a really nice day out so we knew we would be able to see a lot. I guess everyone else did too. We had to stand outside the building for about 45 min before we even got inside to wait there. I took a pic of B-rad & I standing outside. If you look closely you can spot the photo bombers.
Ok-so I'm a little uncomfortable with heights. I don't know why. I've never had a bad experience up high - it just make me nervous. We went up to the highest point of some island on one of our cruises 3 years ago. We had to ride a cable car type thingie up to the top & it was wobbly & made noise. I don't know if that screwed me up or what? I have no problem being on an airplane. I can be in hotels high above the ground. Heck I had no problem with our seats way up high in Wrigley field for the concert. (I think it's a mental thing...like having walls around me or knowing I probably, most likely -won't plunge to my death...) But I didn't know how I would do on the top of this monstrosity. Over 1300 feet up on the 103rd story... Really close to God. Gulp.
We waited over 3 hours to go up to the Skydeck. It was really cool to see out over the city...safely...behind windows, walls & bars...
They also have something called 'ledges' of death. They are like little tiny 'rooms' that go out 4' from the side of the building. (GOOD GOD.) They are completely made of glass...like even the floor...so you can see 103 stories down. (Oh ma Gawd.) And everyone was really excited to go out in them. Everyone but me...
Notice in the pic the chick with the white shoes. She's standing on the glass...the grey area is the carpet safely INSIDE the walls of the building.
We stood in line to have our turn out on the ledge of death. Brian & Shauna went in & took pics & looked around...B-rad got in, took pics & laid down to make it look like he was falling (madness, I tell ya!) & I stood there VERY quietly. Like hoping they would forget I was there quiet. I tried to tell myself I could do it, but at one point I held my hand out & it was shaking. I took that as a sign that Jaime Mac ain't supposed to be out there. Shauna asked if I wanted to step out. I said 'nu uh' & she simply said "ok.". (She didn't try to convince me or talk me into it at all which I really appreciated.)
In one of the ledges of death they had a camera set up. You could pose or do funny pics. Brian & Shauna took a pic like they were falling.
So we thought we could do a group pic inside the ledge of death. Again - I kept telling myself I would be fine, I could run in, take a pic & run out. (Well, I got the running out part down for sure...) None of them forced me to go out. Not at all. But I wanted to TRY to do it.
Brian & Shauna we already standing there...B-rad was behind me & Shauna took my hand to get me in. I looked down & that was it - freak out commenced. I cannot explain the feeling of stepping out seeing buildings under your feet & knowing you are outside away from the safe confines of the steel building. I think I might have said, "no no no." (I was thinking it if I didn't actually say it.) I heard B-rad say, "NO! DON'T LOOK DOWN!" & I clamped my eyes shut & threw my head back. I remember standing there shaking standing between Shauna & B-rad. They both had hold of me & kept saying, "You're ok." "It's ok." "We'll be done in a second." When the pic was done - I got my ass outta there. I heard them say, "You did it! Great job, Jaime!". Even the camera lady said, "Yes, you did it, Jaime" & patted me on the shoulder as I ran by her.
I stood next to the wall & cried. Shauna came over to hug me & told me she was proud of me & let me cry. I got tears (& a little snot) on her shoulder. Sorry, Shauna... B-rad came over a minute later & I finally dried it up & pulled myself together.
I feel bad because I kinda ruined the picture. I tried to smile, but I was crying so I didn't want to open my mouth because, well - you know what it's like to cry with your mouth open - not pretty. Shauna was sweet to say that I didn't ruin the pic & it just looks like I'm squinting from the sun. (I don't have a copy of it to show it to you. I only saw it briefly while the little photo place was showing them the pics to choose from to buy.) I'm not ashamed I was scared, I'm embarrassed that I couldn't hold myself together for the 15 seconds it took to get the pic. Sigh. So really - other than me having a melt down teeny weeny tiny issue with the glass room that sits out away from the building 103 stories up & messing up the pic, our Willis Tower visit was a success!
But to give you some perspective, I totally stole this from Brian's Facebook...
THIS is a ledge
I mean - if you look at that & DON'T freak out
2 comments:
No can do. I too would cry and have a fit! I feel your pain, and I'm sorry you cried :(
I think I could do it for about 15 seconds and that is it. Because I'm still enclosed I think I would be okay. Steve on the other hand would freak.
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