The Great Plunge

"Ok. I'm gonna do it." Those words would lead me into one of the scariest, and most exiting things I had ever done in my life.

It was a hot summer day in Maine. The kind that made you sweat even when you were standing still. The humidity was worse than usual and we all wanted to find a place to cool down.

So we wandered down the road to the rivers edge, bathing suits under our shorts, and towels in hand to dry off with after. We had finally gotten to the best spot to swim on the river near the old green bridge when Adam issued the challenge. "Who dares go off the top of the bridge with me?"

" You need to do this. Just say it" you silently remind yourself. You knew you'd regret it if you didn't. Before you knew it the words were out of your mouth. " I'm in. I'll do it'"

To which Greg replied, " woo hoo we got us a virgin jumper. This is gonna be fun."

I had never done it and was teased mercilessly because of it. I had a terrible fear of heights and it kept me from being one of the gang on more than one occasion. I was determined on that day to defeat this fear and belong.

The sweet was dripping off us all. The weather man said it was going to be in the high 80's and he wasn't kidding.

" Are you sure you're up for this" asked Adam. He was always looking out for me and rarely teased me about my fear. "You don't have too if you don't want too."

" Ah come on don't try to talk her out of it now, man she's finally gonna do it. Don't you dare chicken out now. I'll never let you live it down."

"OK, I'm gonna do it." The words slipped out so easily, but my heart felt as if it would pound right out of my chest. As we started up I knew it was way to late to back out now.

I fell in to line behind Greg, with Adam behind me. Our sneakers were still on because, I was told not to jump barefoot, just in case I landed wrong. Greg loved to tell stories and loved to try to scare the crap out of me. He'd told me a story about a kid who had jumped a few years back barefoot and cut his feet all up, because he hadn't pointed his toes when he hit the water. He also cautioned against diving in unless you were an expert because at that height you could easily land wrong and break your neck. With these stories and my already growing panic, we started the accent to the top of the great green beast of a bridge.

The higher I climbed the scarier it became, but I just kept looking at the rivets and hoping I was almost there. The vertical beams were about 3 feet wide with large rivets that made for decent foot holds and thin enough on the edges for a decent place for my hands. The metal was hot in the sun and I was glad I hadn't decided to go with out something on my feet.

My hands were sweaty as I came to the top. It was so dizzyingly high. There was Greg standing tall like a crazy person. He was practically running back and forth on the top of the metal beam. It measured maybe 2 and a half feet at the top. Barely enough to stand on as it was. It never fazed him any and he continued his antics as I gingerly made my way across to the jump spot. As soon as I got to the middle I sat down. I was trying to keep my breathing steady and doing my best not to cry or panic. I had all I could do to look up at Greg as I had been staring at the rivets and the metal beam to try to keep calm. Adam was right behind me, also standing to enjoy the view. As I sat there a truck went rumbling by on the bridge, and the whole thing shook. My heart leapt into my chest and I held on so certain that the shaking would send us all toppling down to the grate below.

"OK here goes" yells Greg as he bails off the top and lands in the water feet first. It was longer than I thought before he resurfaced and it gave me pause to think, " Do I really want to do this?" I definitely didn't want to have to climb back down. It felt like I had climbed a mountain, and I didn't want to spoil it now. The sweat still dripping off my face, and down my back. As soon as Greg was clear from the jump spot in went Adam. As was his accustom he had to do a summer sault off the top, but still landed with his feet toward the water. He let out a great loud "whoo hoo" as he jumped that echoed as he hit the water with a great splash.

Again I watched and waited for him to surface. It was only seconds but always seemed like it took forever. As he came to the top and started to shore I came to the realization that I was there on that big old bridge alone. I felt the old fear grip me. I felt weak and terrified. I tried not to shake in terror as a car passed below me and the bridge bounce about from it's weight. In that very moment I knew if I did not find a way passed this feeling I would be stuck up there, but worse I would be ridiculed for the rest of my life.

The Sun was beating down on me from above and my hair was blowing about in the gentle summer breeze. I could hear the sounds of the water fall not far off and the hydro-dam humming as I slowly stretch my legs and stood. Everything else in the world seem to fall away. I was alone on a precipice.

This was it. I took a deep breath. I thought about how I should hold my arms close to my body and point my toes for impact. I finally stood and readied myself for the great plunge. With a Whoop and a giant leap, I shot off the top of the bridge and plummeted to the river below. Slap. In I went feet first and down, down into the dark water below. It seemed like an eternity before I was able to swim back up to the surface. The water color changing from a dark brown to a lighter translucent as I got closer to the top. Finally as all the air was pouring out of me I broke the surface of the water. I was greeted by the sun and my friends all cheering for me. I had finally jumped off the green bridge. My initiation was complete.