Fear of Heights

I grew up climbimg the escarpment to try and overcome my fear of heights… didn’t work. As soon as I got to the top and looked over, wham. The reason for the fear? As I look over the edge I lose all sense of balance. Vertigo? Who knows.

Then I found myself in Alberta at the tar sands. Big construction projects. I was a labourer for a brick laying firm. Made $800 to $1000 a week. Not bad for 1976.

Where did this job take me? Sometimes up to 40 feet in the air, on a windy day, pushing a wheelbarrow full of wet mortar along a 10″ wide board. I guess the greater the reward the greater the bravery. Kind of explains all the “survivor” shows on TV.

These days I am not getting paid for climbing. Guess what? Yep, standing on chair to change a light bulb is a harrowing experience. Thank God they came out with the super lasting light-bulbs.

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