|
| 1.Q |
Tell me
about the first time you remember being thrilled. |
|
| 1.A |
My third
grade teacher, Sister Evangeline, made a tremendous fuss about
me because I had broken my arm and had to wear a cast, and she
called me "Little One Wing." I not only felt very
special and honored, I felt romantic love for her. (Then my
family moved out of state and I lost all that sympathy.) |
|
| |
| 2.Q |
What’s the slightest thing
to have thrilled you? |
|
| 2.A |
Just tears
themselves. No matter how trivial a reason to cry, it always
feels to me that I am experiencing a full dose of humanity.
I cry for just people who meant well, or characters in commercials
who try to please in simple ways. And the thrill is being able
to feel something so subtle or trite. |
|
| |
| 3.Q |
What’s the most frightening
yet thrilling thing you’ve done? |
|
| 3.A |
I went
along with a bunch of people one night in college in a car and
there were guns, and arguments, and I later learned that the
driver intended to murder me but was talked out of it.
I never knew how far any of it would have gone |
|
| |
| 4.Q |
Tell me
why you’re not completely sensible. |
|
| 4.A |
I hate
money and even when it is crucial, I detest trying to prove
whatever I did was worth a certain amount. I don't know when
I will understand money, but it will solve all my problems. |
|
| |
| 5.Q |
What’s
the most uninhibited thing you’ve ever done? |
|
| 5.A |
At about
18 years old I accused the host of a party of being bisexual
and many guests told me to be quiet, and his wife cried, but
I wouldn't shut up and he came out later and they divorced and
sold the home and I was such an immature thug to even be concerned
or vocal. They were 15 years older than me and I had no evidence,
just suspicion. I know I was uninhibited because I thought of
shutting up but wanted to make a point. |
|
| |
| 6.Q |
What have
you considered doing for pleasure but were too concerned about
the risks? |
|
| 6.A |
I would
love to bicycle about 800 miles to Baltimore to visit my daughter,
but I just feel to vulnerable to danger. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| 7.Q |
Describe
the event in one sentence (there’s time to expand later) |
|
| 7.A |
We jumped
in the North Platte River and the current carried us so swiftly
that we were about a mile downstream from our car so we fetched
it and drove it downstream a mile and walked back and jumped
in to repeat the thrill. |
|
| |
| 8.Q |
Tell me
a bit about yourself around this time. |
|
| 8.A |
I was about
21 years old and delivering a car to Texas and picking up another
delivery car to California, and my brother asked if he could
go along with me and it was the best time I ever had, not knowing
what would happen next. |
|
| |
| 9.Q |
List the
sequence of events leading up to your thrill. Try to remember
how you felt at each stage. The smallest detail could be important
(this is your chance to expand). |
|
| 9.A |
We were
ahead of schedule, it was a hot August day, we could see the
river running next to the highway, so we decided to take a swim.
We didn't know the current was so strong. It was so refreshing
and (can I say) thrilling! |
|
| |
| 10.Q |
What were
your thoughts and feelings at the precise moment of thrill? |
|
| 10.A |
Total effortless
mobility, moving very fast in the most delightful environment--fresh
cool water, without a care in the world. |
|
| |
| 11.Q |
What did
you do afterwards? |
|
| 11.A |
We immediately
repeated the experience after getting our car and moving it
a mile downstream and walking back. The thrill was worth all
the walking just to set it up. |
|
| |
| 12.Q |
What were
the risks? |
|
| 12.A |
We are
good swimmers so we didn't figure that in as danger, but we
left our car vulnerable, and we may have encountered any trouble
being on the road, even possibly breaking laws by trespassing
or parking on a road or who knows? |
|
| |
| 13.Q |
What did
you imagine other people thought of you during and after the
event? |
|
| 13.A |
I have
told people of the experience to let them know how exhilarating
it was. I don't want them to envy me or anything but they could
try it themselves if they love swimming. |
|
| |
| 14.Q |
How often
do you think about the event, and why? |
|
| 14.A |
I think
of it when I'm hot or overworked, or when I see a river with
rapids, or when I am just suffering in a suit and shoes with
a clock ticking and I long to be free again, so that means I
think of it several times a year. |
|
| |
| 15.Q |
Some people
probably don’t understand how such a thing can thrill
you; explain it to them. |
|
| 15.A |
If you're
not a swimmer, you may never know the feeling of cool, refreshing,
speedy travel by river but we traveled faster than we could
have ran with our happy heads just floating and thinking only
of the physical sensation--no worry or danger or problem. It
is joy. |
|
| |
| 16.Q |
What three
changes could have made the experience better, and why? |
|
| 16.A |
The
"ride" could have lasted longer. The trip itself
could be useful instead of just pleasurable, such as we were
traveling that way instead of by car all along.
More people could have been there to enjoy it with. |
|
| |
|
| |
Is there
anything you want to add? |
|
| |
I had to
stretch to answer Q16, because it was perfect as is.
--parker |
|
| |
|
|
