response 6:
Use 3 points of view to describe a situation.
situation is: a woman doing her first free-style climb

I.
I can do this. This is what I’ve been training to do. This is what I told Mom I would do. I can totally do this. Maybe if I shift this way I can…reach…it….Nope. Still not close enough. Jumping really doesn’t strike me as the best option. What if I miss? I would fall and that’s a long way to fall. No, it’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m going to go back at this point. The only way to go is up. All I have to do is trust my body. Just leap. What’s that saying…? “Leap and the net shall appear.” Who said that anyway?
“I’m fine, just planning” “I will”
I don’t think anyone said it. Just some saying. A net will appear. Trusting. Hear that, muscles? It’s all you. Here I go.

II.
You can do it, kiddo. I know you can. All your hard work, all that practice. I know you can do this. Slowly, just take your time. No rushing. You’re not on the clock. Find your footholds, there you go. Find a good handhold, good girl. I remember the first time I brought you out here and your Mom was climbing free-style. You looked at me and said, ‘Daddy, I’m going to do that just like Mommy.’ And now you are. She would be so proud of you. Hmm, you stuck? Think it through. Plan your move.
“You alright?” “Be careful!”
You’re almost there. You are so close. You’re going to leap aren’t you? There you go!

III.
Looks like a good climbing day. Look at ‘em down there. A nice handful. They sort of look like the first ants finding an abandoned chunk of Twizzler. Scurrying around and all. I love flying above them, seeing them climb up, defying gravity like I am. Except they are relying on their muscles alone. Amazing what the human body can do. And the spectators. I would hate to watch a loved one up there on the rock. Must be nerve wracking. Thinking about all of the what-ifs, feeling utterly helpless. No thank you, Bob. Much too stressful for me. Oh, look at that girl, she’s stuck in the spot that climber was in last year. He fell. She’s going to jump for it too, isn’t she? She’s preparing, you can see all her muscles tense. Yup, she’s letting go.

6 March 2007