We went to a cookout last night. It was a hot, steamy day here in Keene, and a part of me begrudged even the extra heat necessary to cook food. But we love hangin' with our friends Shawn and Tanna, and they promised one room with air conditioning.
And a waterslide.
I can't remember the last time I slid on a water slide, if I ever did. It didn't really hold any appeal for me as an adult. But I brought my swimsuit, "just in case."
Boy, am I glad I did.
It was so hot, and the talk was languid. We were a little late, so everyone else had already eaten. Only one small boy, his lips blue and teeth chattering, was still gamely flinging himself down the hill with the waterslide Tanna had set up.
It looked refreshingly cool. Even tempting.
"Go ahead!" encouraged my husband. "Try it!"
I don't know what got into me, but after a few grown-up hems and haws, I put on my suit and decided to give it a whirl.
Oh. My. God.
My first few flings were a bit floppy, and I never even attempted the more daredevil tricks the younger crew mastered. I was content with the simple head-first belly-down glide. But it was exhilarating.
I must have flung myself down that chute about fifty times! I have floor burns on my knees, I stubbed my big toe mightily on take-offs, and my lower back is not happy.
But I am.
My daughter and her friend joined me, and soon waterslide interest was totally rekindled. Tanna soon joined us, showing off her masterful leap-to-your-feet maneuver at the end of each glide. I found myself arguing about line order with five-year-olds, and we all cheered on the more adventuresome sliders with their unusual contortions. Who knew you could slide with not one, not two, but FOUR plastic inner tubes wrapped around your body??
I had so much fun. I felt so GOOD about being alive.
And all because, as I stood at the top of the hill, instead of hearing that little grouchy voice that says, "You'll look like an idiot!" I heard another little voice saying, "It's only risk number one for the week!"
