Suffocation

Wednesday night I jumped on an inner tube and said to some kids standing there to jump on. “Let’s get six of us on this thing!” I’m not sure how many jumped on the tube and my back, but it was at least that many. Just then we started moving over the side of the hill and gaining a little speed, however with all of the weight compressing my back and the snow being jammed in my face and mouth I, suddenly, couldn’t breathe.

The whole “remain calm, Craig,” in my brain, lasted about two tenths of a second and I panicked while the tube was still gaining a little speed. Instantly in an act of self preservation I reared back and rolled over sending several middle school bodies crashing off the tube, which began a chain reaction and we all fell off the “Craig face plant choke and die” tubing run.

Later, I realized that I hadn’t experienced that sudden grip of fear in a very long time and I must admit I didn’t like it, even though I was never really in any grave danger of dying.

I wonder how many people live in the clutches of real fear on a daily basis? I would hate to have fear have power over all of my thoughts and actions.
I’m afraid that I wouldn’t survive that very well either.
Still tubing ..... and breathing!