On Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Albany was beautiful. The sun was glinting off the plaza and the Capitol building was speckled with lingering rays of sunshine.
Unfortunately for me, I was struggling to take in the metropolitan beauty since I was standing on a ledge 18 stories above a very hard concrete street as part of the Special Olympics fundraiser Over the Edge, in which participants rappel down the side of the Crowne Plaza.
“Just rock your heels off the ledge and lean back as far as you can go,” said my Over the Edge instructor.
Sure, no problem, right? I like to suspend myself above State Street for fun all the time.
“Are you sure these ropes will hold me? Are you sure I won’t slip out of this harness? I’m pretty small. Wait, you’re pushing on my feet, stop. Don’t make me laugh, this is not a laughing matter,” I said in between gasps for breath and sighs of “Oh Lord.”
After my very patient instructors (who were visibly amused by my spastic reaction) convinced me that everything was in working order and there was a radio attached to me if I got stuck, I finally started walking myself down the brick hotel wall.
It was a long way down. At first, it wasn’t so bad. The gadget I squeezed to lower myself wasn’t releasing rope too fast or too slow and the Over the Edgers above me were urging me to “smile for the camera” and take in the scenery (I did the first request, passed on the second).
Then my squeezing hand started burning with exhaustion, getting so weak I needed a rest and had to stop and just chill 12 stories in the air. That wasn’t great since I had time to think and my thoughts went a little like this:
“Wow, I’m hanging in this harness really high up. Normal people don’t do this. I wonder if I’m resting too long and they think something’s wrong. At least my red knee socks look good. Okay, the faster I start squeezing the faster I’ll be on the ground.”
With some random person cheering for me (and complimenting my red knee socks!) I managed to finish my rappel fairly quickly (at least that’s what someone told me later) and without swinging and flailing uncontrollably like I’d envisioned. I survived!
Everyone told me I’d feel invincible and my adrenaline would be rushing when I reached the ground and I’d be itching to rappel again.
Not quite.
It was empowering to know I did it, since I’m terrified of heights. I was proud of myself for going through with it without mishap (though, if I didn’t, I’d never hear the end of it from The Spotlight newsroom). And I was excited to share my experience and get the word out about the annual event.
Over the Edge challenges participants to raise $1,000 for Special Olympics for the chance to rappel down the side of the Crowne Plaza. From about 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. people dangle high above Albany and there was music and festivities throughout the day.
For information about this year’s (and next year’s) event and all the good works of the Special Olympics, visit www.facebook.com/OverTheEdgeAlbany.
