Saturday, July 31, 2010

Flying High



I just returned from Rhinebeck, New York where I attended "Trapeze Camp" with my copilot in work and play, Miss Pegged.  We had no idea when we booked the class that it would coincide with Chelsea Clinton's wedding and that our hotel was prime choice for a large portion of her guests.

Signs of well wishes were everywhere! 

Overnight this quaint little town was transformed into a media circus and the buzz only added to our own circus theme. 


I passed Natalie Morales from the Today Show outside our hotel 3 times before I recognized her. 

I should have bought her a sandwich

Because I was still high from the after effects of trapeze, I introduce myself and told her about our escapades.  She was polite and a bit intrigued - remarking that the experience must have been a fun and memorable one.

  halfway into her live broadcast Miss Pegged pulled the plug

She was right of course - for me it's not about doing something dangerous, its about having a collection of memorable experiences.

And Trapeze Class is certainly one of them...

does that safety belt make my ass look fat?

By the time it was over, not only did I fly twenty-three feet in the air, I hung upside down and did a back flip off the bar.  


Sadly, I was told my timing wasn't down enough to do a mid-air "catch" so I pretended I did one.  


Because I was wearing monkey socks and a green monkey tee shirt (a gift from my silver friends) everyone cheered "MONKEY, MONKEY, MONKEY!" 


Notice the intense look on my face - a reminder of just how frightened I was.  My neck is still sore from clinching my teeth.  


Notice the distance from the bar to the net!
My husband would like you to notice how close I came to missing the net!!

ME sliding down a poll - imagine that! 

This made me think about all the memorable moments in my life.  Because I will eventually turn my blog posts into a book, I thought I'd jot some of them down.  I guess you could say this is my version of a completed Bucket List.

Memorable Moments

sky diving with my son
gliding on an ultra light 1,300 feet above Burning Man
attending Burning Man and all the life changing events that happen there
snorkeling in Hawaii and the Caribbean
parasailing in Mexico
climbing ancient Mayan ruins, Sacre Coeur, the Eiffel tower
standing on top of Heavenly Mountain, the Cliffs of Moher, the Empire State Building
riding a sea turtle
flying UNDER the George Washington Bridge in a two seater Cessna airplane
sailing under the San Francisco Bay bridge, around the State of Liberty and between the tiny islands that make up Virgin Gorda
watching my daughter dance during half time at the Pro Bowl
watching my daughter graduate high school
being a featured blogger on SITS
driving a stick shift (for the first time) in Ireland
accompanying my father on his last marathon
completing 3 marathons
running 4 marathons
taking a trapeze class
saving a baby bird
raising and successfully releasing a baby squirrel
finding and marrying my soul mate
perusing art vendors along the Seine with my daughter Lindsay
photographing Carly Simon
meeting David Best
quitting smoking
giving birth to 2 amazing souls
teaching myself how to paint, sew, write
summer camp
hula hooping on broadway
traveling to Europe by myself
addressing Congress
meeting Senator Dodd
Running for local level government office
passing out home made Obama buttons in 6 states
witnessing the inauguration of Barack Obama
witnessing Kermit Ruffin's wedding
enjoying Jazz in New Orleans
dancing to live music
dancing on stage
making my SURVIVOR audition tape 
Getting my security, investigation and detective license
Getting my drivers license (I drove for 6 years without one)
taking a nude sketch class
going to a nude beach
participated in a 20 mile overnight suicide awareness walk
participating in Hands Across America
attending a writing retreat in Paris
flying from Shannon to Kennedy and Kennedy to Shannon

And because I enjoy making lists, I might as well include my To Do List:

get published
go fishing
sail down the river Shannon
trapeze with my daughter
exercise regularly
accidentally bump into Marty on his virtual bar crawl
make a difference in a childs life
make a difference in the city of New Orleans

I'm sure there are many more, but for today, the sun is shining, there is a warm summer breeze just outside my door.  Time to create a memory, or two, or three...



for more scoop on Chelsea's wedding check out: 

33 comments:

  1. You bring me lots of smiles Shannon. You ooze some very interesting vibes that I like to tap into. Keep doing it.
    Alice

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  2. wow!!! what an awesome thing to say. Thank you Alice...

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  3. To say I am jealous of most of the stuff you have done is an understatement. Loved that you got to do the trapeze class. Love that you aren't a Obama hater, and love that you want to make a difference in the life of a child.

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  4. Great post and pictures! You're truly living life and inspiring other people to do so. Good for you! And great bucket list!

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  5. Dazee - I try really hard not to hate anyone. I get upset but then I let it go. I got upset with Natalie Morales for standing in my way as I tried to walk down the sidewalk.... :) but I let that go too.

    I'm having a hard time letting go of that trapeze class - hopefully I do it one more time next week (with my daughter) and its great motivation for being in better shape. It was exhausted walking up the ladder! and trying to hold onto my weight was HARD - talk about being self reliant!

    I am far from being an Obama hater but I still have to work on letting the Bush anger go.

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  6. Thanks Marty! you know I'm one of your biggest fans! ooohhhh you reminded me to add one more to my todo list

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  7. Wow Shannon still the adventurous one. I pulled out my pictures of my skydiving adventure a couple of days ago and thought about what a great experience that was. Keep on fighting and living life to the fullest.

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  8. Thanks Jeff! yes, skydiving really was something! Wish I could find my video but I remember the background song!

    and I went to battery park last week - I have not been there since we did "hands across america!"

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  9. Oh, Shannon! I am in awe of you!! I love it that you are doing such marvelous things! The "craziest-Bucket-List-kind-of-thing" that I've done recently is rode in a little 2-seater, prop plane that had no door on the right side, which was a VERY big thing for me to do!! I wrote about it on my blog and posted a picture...last year sometime. I'll look it up and let you know when exactly it was if you're interested! Stop by my blog..I'm having a cool contest! Hugs to you!! :)

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  10. MonkeyMOnkeyMOnkey!
    You've lived a full life, and I'm glad you're writing it down, and with such grace, and insight, that it touches people.

    If interested, I'd like to get you and Marked doing some acrobalancing. That way, you can be acrobatic whenever you want.
    It makes me really happy to see you wear that shirt!

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  11. You go girl!! Live life to every second!

    Come by when you can...

    www.frugaltractormom.blogspot.com

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  12. Lord Child, what a list of accomplishments! I really want to do N.O. and Memphis but are on hold. So right now I make simple memories.

    I'm glad you are writing them down, that is going to be one good read. :)

    Jules
    Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

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  13. Wow, what a great list of accomplishments. I'm jealous (although I have done the nude beach thing).... I'll have to add "Opening and running a restaurant in NOLA with Shannon" to my list. Also letting go of the Bush anger thing is on my list, but I'm not too motivated to start....

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  14. WOW!! what a list! U go girl! you did alot of interesting things! I now want to make a "list"

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  15. Great post! Amazing lists...

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  16. Thanks Nat, Becky and Cheryl! and all you anonymous's :)
    Chris - restaurant in NOLA ~lets put it on the list!
    Jesse ~ yes, I'm up for some acrobatics!!!

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  17. First, thanks for stopping by my blog. I am grateful for every single visit & comment. Truly.
    Next, there were so many things that I loved about this post that you have inspired me to make a list:
    - that you said you gave birth to two SOULS
    - that you went to trapeze CAMP - who even KNEW there was such a thing? I tried to HANG on a trapeze about 20 years ago & my arms almost came off, so I can only imagine how hard it was!
    - that you want to GO BACK WITH YOUR DAUGHTER
    - that you went skydiving with your son (I also went skydiving & ended up hanging from a tree)
    - that you supported Obama
    - that you went to the inauguration
    - that you thoughtfully knew that Natalie M. needed a sandwich
    - that you work on letting anger for Bush - or anyone else - go
    - that you are full of light and love
    - that people like you inspire me!

    Best,
    Colleen

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  18. That looks like loads of fun to be on a trapeze! Congratulations for having the courage to try it. :)

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  19. Wow! You've experienced some amazing things in your life. Thanks for sharing your adventure. Can't wait to read more!

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  20. So cool! You go, baby! You are truly an inspiration to me! Love the pictures. Love the courage. Love the list. Love the zest for life.

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  21. Ha ha ha! I'm honored to be on your to do list!

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  22. NORTH 25A (aka "Colleen" yep, same as my sister) you made me cry (it was a good cry) and toast to all things memorable and those who strive to collect them...


    I think a lot of the reason why I do THINGS is to write about them.

    Thanks Bossy - YOU inspire me, every day!

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  23. NOTES and SAMSTUFF... lets make a date, you, me, us...and ????

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  24. This is so weird. You're the second person I've come across today with a direct Rhinebeck connection. The first was a columnist from our local paper who used to live there (I'm in Reno). Anyway, freaky. And, yes, Natalie could use a sandwich.

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  25. That Rawks that you did it, keep inspiring yourself & thanks for sharing this event. Its got a smile on my face & hell I might even taken on the day.
    Mr Monkey

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  26. What a great blog.

    From one dreamer to another, I hope you find all that you are reaching for.

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  27. Wow what a weekend!

    Thanks for your recent visits and comments over at News From Italy. With all our visitors now departed I am catching up on my Blog reading.

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  28. That flying on the trapeze looks so scary and hard. I'm really impressed that you are going back and look forward to more pictures. I had no idea you had done so many of the things on your list! Keep up the learning and growing.

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  29. Wow, that post is amazing in more than a few ways. I was impressed enough to learn of your Trapeze Class, but after I read your list, I thought, "what took ya so long?" You have lived so much life! Your energy and passion come through on the page (or screen, as it were), and they are beyond inspiring. Now I'm just wondering about Natalie's bucket list. I wonder if it includes eating something at some point.

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  30. Hello! Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog. Nice to meet you! Wow! You are a brave and adventurous soul. Trapeze class--no way I'd be up for that. Your list of accomplishments is amazing too!

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  31. Love it, love how uninhibited you are and adventurous! Good for you! You are an amazing woman. Glad I stopped by tonight.

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  32. Your sky-diving photos are awesome. It must be a great sensation, but I'm afraid I'm too much of a chicken to ever try.

    www.FunnyPhotosContest.com. Submit CUTE or FUNNY photos and tell friends to vote. $2,000 in prizes. No entry fee.

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  33. wow! that's the only thing I can say... WOW! I salute you...your list made me feel so proud (and I don't even know you in person!!) your life has been full and exciting and then some! I made a list myself of 40 things I want to accomplish before 40... my goal? to make them all (even after my imaginary deadline) and to document them all. After reading your post, I know it is possible! they can become memories! you have no idea how you made me feel and how important it was for me to read you today. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

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Thank you for encouraging my JOY of writing. By reading and commenting you are feeding my soul, stroking my heart, and in the end...making me a better writer.

Thank You For Encouraging My Joy of Writing

Thank You For Encouraging My Joy of Writing
greenmonkeytales@live.com

Shannon E. Kennedy

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Photo by Joan Harrison