Like so many difficult things in life, the hardest part of rappelling down a 230-foot building as part of the Easter Seals Drop Zone event in Saskatoon Aug. 27, was the start. Standing at the top, admiring the view of the city spread out below was not a problem. However, planting my feet on the edge of the roof and leaning backwards took a deep breath or two.
We had come early to Saskatoon as we were meeting daughter Sharlee at the bus station. After a quick lunch, Sharlee came with me to the ladies' room in the Midtown Centre to help me get ready. Changing my own shirt for Lana Lang's red shirt with a blue L on the front and a "I (heart) Superman" on the back, I applied some Superman blue eye shadow and Superman red lipstick. Sharlee sprayed my hair, changing it to the lush red hair of Lana's youth.
The ladies' room at the Midtown was a busy place. While many people glanced at us with curiosity as they went by, only one woman stopped to say, "I have to ask. What are you doing this for?"
Teenager Sharlee made sure to not walk with me, dressed in my Lana Lang shirt, as we made on our way back to the vehicle.
With printed directions in hand, I instructed John to head to the Saskatoon Funeral Home, where parking was reserved for the rappellers. Of course, this particular location for parking, before going off the top of a 23-story building, leaves room for comment and John and Sharlee did not disappoint in this regard.
The emailed instructions from the Easter Seals Drop Zone organizers had said to come in the front doors of the Carleton Tower and find the registration desk. "From there, we will take great care of you," and they certainly did.
They provided enthusiastic smiles and thank yous for participating and fundraising, explanations of the steps involved from there on out and a friendly volunteer to take me to the DJ to hand in the music for my descent, to the secure hospitality suite and to show me where I would go to get my harness on when it was time.
From the moment I heard of the Easter Seals Drop Zone event it was something I wanted to do - both because I believe in the work Easter Seals does for people with disabilities and because I was ready for an adventure. We couldn't have arrived at the rappel site at a better time if further inspiration was needed.
Coming outside the building after registration, I got to see Brandon Boechler and one of the rappel tech experts coming down from the top of the wall. Brandon is in a wheelchair. With the crowd of 100 people or so cheering him on, Brandon was all smiles as he finished his rappel, putting an end to any excuses any of us able-bodied rappellers might have been harbouring.
Mostly excited but a little nervous, I was fitted with my harness and given one last chance to do a practice rappel on a 15-foot structure set up just for that purpose.
Then it was time to take the elevator and climb the final stairwell to the roof. Ropes and pulleys seemed to be everywhere, along with volunteers and people in black "rescue" t-shirts. Two large tripods stood near the edge, with ropes attached, running back to structures in the centre of the roof.
After taking a couple of pictures of the view, I was called over to one of the tripods where two men in rescue shirts attached the ropes to my harness. "Already?" I thought, not sure if I was ready, when they asked me to step to the edge of the roof.
Holding on to the tripod poles for balance and security, I placed my feet as instructed, well apart, heels over the edge. Feeling relatively secure, with one hand firmly gripping a pole on either side, I gulped a little when asked to let go with my right hand and take the guide rope in it. Things seemed to be moving very quickly when next it was time to let go of the pole with my other hand and take hold of the lever on the carabiner at the front of the harness, which I would use to control my speed going down.
There is no question the toughest part of the whole day was then leaning back, back, back into open air and nothingness until - relief! - I could feel the rope tighten and knew I was being supported.
Although continuing to lean back from that point, until I was completely horizontal to the wall, was easier, I was astounded when I was told to look up and over so my picture could be taken. Didn't they know I was busy mentally reviewing all the directions and safety instructions I'd been given? And then simply looking up and over to the man with the camera wasn't enough for them; I was even asked to smile.
Then I was off, literally. Careful steps down three feet, then one big step from the lip that ran around the edge of the roof, to the actual wall of the building itself. After I had passed three or four series of windows and balconies, I thought perhaps I'd better pause and get a photograph. I had a camera attached to my harness, but it was too difficult to push the small buttons with my gloved hands.
Without having to worry about photos anymore, I continued walking down the wall when I heard, from above me, "Go ahead, bounce," so I made some leaps and bounds too, swinging out from the wall and back again, as I made my way down. The total descent took four minutes and 28 seconds.
Halfway down, I could hear the announcer reading portions of the bio I had provided. John said afterwards they had mentioned I was representing Unity several times. While I would have liked to have heard my chosen music - Conquest of Paradise by Vangelis - at the top to give me more courage, it was still nice to hear it playing on the loudspeakers as I made my way down the bottom part of the wall and landed safely on the ground.
Thank you, Unity, for donating $2,417.85 to Easter Seals and letting me have such an exciting, memorable day! Seventy-two rappellers participated in Saskatoon Aug. 27 and raised a total of $171,241.50 for Easter Seals, enough to send 111 kids to camp for another year. A 79-year-old grandmother was the oldest participant, so I have a ways to go, since I turn only 58 this week.
