Fly on a trapeze

“But when I was on the trapeze, it was interesting how those two commands helped me glide through the air. When I listened and took action just when they told me to, grace would take over and my move through the air would be effortless. [...] We were supposed to listen for his cue to bring our legs over the bar because from his vantage point, he knew the precise moment when the wind would be at my back and grace would take over.”

“When Darrel was giving me instruction from below, I kept questioning him. “Now?” I’d ask. “Yes, now,” he’d say. Then he’d say, “Okay, now swing the legs back and forth.” And I’d repeat, “Swing my legs back and forth? How do I do that?” He’d say, “Yes, Sonya, back and forth. Just as it sounds, back and forth.” And I’d say, “Now?” And he’d say, “Yes, Now!” When I finally made it through (it was my first time) and safely landed on the net, he came up from under me and said, jokingly, “It wasn’t supposed to be a debate, Sonya.”

“Hanging upside down on the bar and swinging in the air felt oddly familiar. Again, I have never in my life done trapeze but as a child, I did hang upside down from monkey bars and fly on swingsets. As adults, it can be difficult to engage in physical activity we find exciting and enjoyable. Flying trapeze was the first time in a while I felt like I was exploring something new and exhilarating. Not to mention the feeling of accomplishment that washes over you after you nail a trick or simply, gather the confidence to jump off a 23-foot platform.”