Fear
Have you ever thought about what you are afraid of? I did this morning. Probably my greatest fear is having something happen to someone in my family that I cannot ‘fix’ or help with. Then there is my second greatest fear, which I did today.
On the way to face my second greatest fear, I got thinking about some of the things I have experienced in life. It was probably my way of coping with the situation. Throughout my life, I have:
- had a raging forest fire chase me up a mountain. Making it to the top and to safety with only seconds to spare.
- had a helicopter crash just a few hundred feet in front of me.
- been in a helicopter when it almost crashed
- been washed down a mountain by a load of slurry (used in fire fighting) that was off target.
- watched a slurry air tanker crash into the side of the mountain
- been run off a twenty-foot embankment while on my bike by a Miller Lite truck. To this day, I won’t drink Miller Lite unless that is all that is available.
- been in a tornado area when buildings were still falling without warning
- seeing a head on crash as a car crossed the median on the interstate and ran into a semi-truck. Then, with others, stopped and pulled the victims out.
- had a loaded 12-gauge shotgun pulled on me.
- I was shot at once that I know of.
- driving a vehicle, I knew it was going to be hit from behind at 70 MPH when there was nothing I could do.
- been chased out of the woods at night by a pack of wild dogs.
- stood in front of 800 people and gave a keynote speech.
Yet, none of that scares me half as much as going to the Doctor. What’s your fear?
On the way to face my second greatest fear, I got thinking about some of the things I have experienced in life. It was probably my way of coping with the situation. Throughout my life, I have:
- had a raging forest fire chase me up a mountain. Making it to the top and to safety with only seconds to spare.
- had a helicopter crash just a few hundred feet in front of me.
- been in a helicopter when it almost crashed
- been washed down a mountain by a load of slurry (used in fire fighting) that was off target.
- watched a slurry air tanker crash into the side of the mountain
- been run off a twenty-foot embankment while on my bike by a Miller Lite truck. To this day, I won’t drink Miller Lite unless that is all that is available.
- been in a tornado area when buildings were still falling without warning
- seeing a head on crash as a car crossed the median on the interstate and ran into a semi-truck. Then, with others, stopped and pulled the victims out.
- had a loaded 12-gauge shotgun pulled on me.
- I was shot at once that I know of.
- driving a vehicle, I knew it was going to be hit from behind at 70 MPH when there was nothing I could do.
- been chased out of the woods at night by a pack of wild dogs.
- stood in front of 800 people and gave a keynote speech.
Yet, none of that scares me half as much as going to the Doctor. What’s your fear?
posted by Ralph at 7:40 PM
12 Comments:
Just about everything you listed and then some, but I am not afraid to go to the doctor. Something happening to one of my kids, guns, tornados, hurricanes,car crashes, wild dogs, tidal waves,etc. are things worth having a bit of fear over. When you have spent as much time with doctors as I have, it becomes old hat.
Rhodent
Don't get me wrong most of those things scared me - just not as much as the Doctor.
Ralph
Assuming that the death of a loved one is a given, then my biggest fear is always rats. It's a phobic fear that I haven't been able to shake since I was 16, when I had horrible nightmares almost every night involving them. I can't even look at a picture of one to this day. I'd rather be run off the road by a Miller truck.
Doctors I can handle, though. *G*
Cancer, and we are facing it as you have faced all of your fearful things! GOODNESS! Glad that you survived all of those things, though.
Like Aravis said, the death of a loved one. But all seriousness aside, I would have to go with accidentaly drinking a Miller Lite.
Ralph,
I think my biggest fear would be getting in a vehicle with you. Good Lord, what a rap sheet you got there. And yet Cliff still lets you drive his farm equipment, huh?
Aravis - yeah I put death of a loved in in the cannot fix category. Nightmares of rats - that would scare me too.
miki - I know and you and Scott are in our thoughts and prayers.
Dan - it does leave a lingering bad taste in your mouth.
Jerry - only two of those things happened in the last 7 years. Most happen years if not decades ago. Cliff's farm equipment is safe.
All of the men around here call my Doctor, ET. For good reason.
Also, I'm glad Char sold the 12 ga.
My word Ralph! You have had some close calls.
Doctor's are no big deal. (Unless you are expecting bad news).
My fears -- if something happened to me, who would care for my husband.
My 'nine lives' episodes [7 Jan 2006] can't begin to compare with your scares.
Each one could be a nice blog entry or two.
..
Well-put about your greatest fear. I'm with you on that one.
It was brave of you to list your close calls. I can't list mine publically. So glad you have suromounted these!
surmounted :)
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