This past weekend our little family had the pleasure of spending the weekend in the St. Louis area for my son's out-of-town baseball tournament. In our down-time, we had the chance to do some fun exploring - a team tour through Busch Stadium, a ride up the arch and a visit to the City Museum which had a vintage Ferris wheel sitting atop a ten story old warehouse building in the middle of downtown St. Louis!
Now this almost-fifty-year-old hasn't been on a Ferris wheel for ages! I never really liked that feeling of my stomach "dropping" as the ride went up and over/round and round. Ever since being diagnosed with ICE and having my multiple surgeries, I
haven't felt the need or desire to ride ANYTHING - but there was something about
this Ferris wheel. Sitting on top of an old building overlooking the city? A gorgeous sunny day? How many times can you experience a "rare" opportunity like this?
My son has always had a fear of "scary" rides - and surely a Ferris wheel 10 stories atop the city qualified as one of those "scary" rides! This became my challenge - I talked to him (and was trying to convince myself too!) about facing our fears - how we couldn't go through life being afraid. We need experiences to conquer our fears - we need to live life and create memories - and we need each other (he and I would ride together) for support.
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| Hubby, Son & Me Ready for the Ride! |
Next thing I know, all three of us - hubby, son and me - are getting aboard the Ferris wheel. The ride starts and we're going up and over/round and round. A little nervous sigh - and then realization that you CAN do this! You look out and up. What an awesome view! You don't look back - it's hard to do in that cramped seat, it serves no purpose, and it might make you sick. You don't look down or close your eyes - for you might miss the sights.
After a few minutes, our time is up. It was a good ride and a wonderful experience. We faced the fears, created memories and LIVED the moment!
It might be a stretch - but isn't a Ferris wheel ride a lesson for how to live with ICE Syndrome? You get diagnosed with a "rare" disease. You are fearful but you have no choice but to face it in order to live. It's best to have a friend or two to help get you through it (hope this blog will help!). Your life seems to go up and over/round and round as you experience symptoms and surgeries - and you realize it's not easy but you CAN do this. You learn to look out and up - enjoying the good times, enduring the bad and realizing there is an ultimate plan of why you are going through this. You don't look back on why or what went wrong - it makes no difference. You don't look down and pity yourself - you miss life. You simply jump in and face what you are given and Live!
So whatever your circumstances, remember the Ferris wheel as you journey with me. You Look Out and Up - and - You Live Life!
Enjoy the Ride!
