go on a waterslide

How I did it: I decided to wait until we went to Edmonton on vacation and go to the Millwoods Recreation Center.  Their waterslide - "The Giant Dragon" - was quite sufficient.  DH and I paid for a pass to the pool area for $11 for the two of us.  I spent considerable time in the hot tub contemplating the situation. The waterslide is enclosed (I'm claustrophobic).  There is a turn at the bottom.

I decided to brave the wave pool.  Found the water wasn't chlorinated, which made my life a lot easier (I react). 

I tried to get DH to go down the waterslide first, but he insisted it was my wish, I had to go.  I was going to chicken out till I saw a father go down with a 1 year old in his arms.  I figured "How hard can this be?" 

So I asked the lifeguard if there was anything I needed to know about the waterslide.  She said 'You land in 15' of water'.  Okay.  I thought I could handle that.  Then I asked her if she saw a lot of older folks go down them.  She said "All the time!"  Uhuh...

So I head up and get in.  There's water coming down in sheets inside this thing periodically.  Part way down the slide everything goes dark.  I start to panic (did I mention I suffer from panic attacks?).  I closed my eyes.  Somehow dark isn't so claustrophobic with your eyes shut.  Don't ask...weird things happen to claustrophobics in dark enclosed spaces. 

I hit the water with little air in my lungs and almost drowned.  Made it to the side of the deep pool where DH said "Gee, looked like you were having trouble there for awhile."

Well, I did it!  And that's what matters.  DD#1 says I didn't provide a photo so I'm going to have to do it again...when she's there.  She doesn't believe I did it.  I'm not in a hurry to prove my point!

Lessons & tips: Don't believe everything the lifeguard says. 

Be sure you can swim well before you land in that 15' of water. 

Make sure you take a good deep breath before exiting the slide because you hit that water with a force and go down quite a ways.

Dec 18, 2008, 10:51AM PST | 0 comments | 1 cheer