OK - we went and it was SO much fun!
Things I learned:
- I don't use my trapeze muscles every day. Or probably any day, for that matter, judging by the soreness level the next couple of days.
- I bruise very easily.
- I can do it!
After we practiced on the lower bar it was time to go up the ladder. The instructors asked who wanted to go first and no one moved. So I volunteered, figuring it was better to go first before anyone could scare me out of it. And I wanted to go before my husband did.
As I climbed the ladder you could see me getting slower and slower and slower the closer to the top I got. I hate shaky ladders. And I hate transferring from the ladder to the platform. And I really hate the part where you've got the trapeze in one hand, your toes over the edge of the platform, and they say "Now let go and grab the trapeze with your other hand." Even at the end that part was still hard.
The first time they told me to go I kind of stuttered and my feet didn't move, but then I managed to actually leave the platform on only the second "ready." Once I hit the net after following all the commands, though, I had to lay there for a second to let my heart stop pounding.
We got to do the catch, which was successful, and on the third catch they had us try to turn around and recatch the bar that we'd just left. I consider it a victory that I could even see the bar I just left - at least that meant I'd managed to turn around! In reviewing the video, however, it actually looks like I had a chance at grabbing it. Next time. My ex-gymnast husband managed to get one hand on it and hold on, but he was the only one in the class that did.
On the way home Jim told me he was proud of me - which made me laugh. When I asked him at what point he thought I'd bail he said that he thought I'd have a problem letting go of the bar and hanging by my knees. Which was funny, because I never gave that part a second thought.
Can't wait to do this again!