Shirley, you've tripped onto one of my favorite things -- Pelicans. Aside of Flamingos, they are my absolute favorite bird, and I've even said if I could be a bird, I would be a Pelican. I know exactly what you mean -- was swimming down at St. Petes beach one year and had Pelicans diving all around us. They are one of my favorite parts of the shore. The picture above is on I took in CA last Sept -- hope you don't mind I included it. ;) I also have pictures of hundreds of Pelicans sitting on rocks at La Jolla, and I just can't get enough of them. Created a tarot card once called "The Three of Pelicans" and have a beautiful little carved pelican here on my table. :)

Anyway... on to your question. I would be much wimpier if it weren't for my husband, who is an adventure guy and pushes me to take chances -- he won't push me to do anything I'm really uncomfortable with, but he has take n me to places I never would have gone on my own: ocean kayaking, sailing, snorkeling out on a reef, and maybe, soon, river rafting. ;) (Oh, and my mother was like you, standing praying when I jumped off the high dive or went in the deep end -- she was afraid of water, and I think part of my insistence on doing such things was in resistance to those fears).

I grew up in a small town where it was scary just to drive to the local city (where I now live) and I remember it was such a huge deal when I got in my car and drive to Baltimore/DC for the first time in my 20s to visit friends -- my family was so worried! When we went to NYC for the first time, Mike thought I might not leave the room, but I took to it like fish to water -- surprise to me, too, but I love it.

On amusement parks, I have done a few roller coasters, but I have a comfort zone there, and won't do incredibly high ones, like that Superman one, and I don't do Ferris Wheels -- they scare me to death. I don't necessarily mind high or fast, but you couldn't pay me enough to get on a ferris wheel.

So, I am not fearless, far from it. I'm not an adventure girl by any means, but I find myself doing things that are always past my comfort zone because of this guy I married, and most of the time I enjoy it a lot. :)

Sam

I'd like to take the chance of submitting one of my finished stories to a publisher. I just get stuck on the idea that my stories aren't perfect enough, though. Love the post about the pelican and how it inspires you :)

There are a lot of things I want to try. I have always had a morbid fear of any situation where oxygen is finite (ie space travel, submarines, scuba - some a little easier to avoid than others!!!). But I did a short scuba dive a few years ago, not wanting to be a killjoy for my partner who really wanted to do it, and I loved it. Ever since then, I try to make myself do things I am nervous about a little more. We're about to start dance classes - latin or something, we're not sure yet - and this is a brave thing for me because I was always really crap at sports when I was a kid and when I heard we have to swap partners in dance classes so you learn to dance with lots of different people, I wanted to chicken out. It's okay for my guy to know I can't dance, but strangers? No way! (I'm giving you a peek into my highly warped psyche here, sorry!) Anyway, I decided that this is really something I want to do so my self consciousness can go hang. I won't bore you with the rest of the list, but it does go on. Good luck with your pelican inspired submissions - look forward to reading the fruits of your epiphany.

Hi Shirley! My husband proposed to me when we were both 25; we'd dated since we were just 15 years old and I knew he was the only one for me. Even so, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. We both grew up in the same small town and I'd attended college just 40 minutes from home, so I hadn't really experienced much. But a week after he proposed (I said yes), I was offered an overseas job that would keep me in Europe for 3-5 years. I'd never been out of New England! My guy was completely enthusiastic about it and convinced me it would be a great adventure. So my amazing mom put together a fairy-tale wedding in less than six weeks, and five days after the wedding, we left for Europe. No family, no friends, no support system. Just the two of us. I was terrified and excited at the same time. Those five years were the best. We had so much fun, and I experienced things I'd only ever dreamed of. If I'd been offered that opportunity before he'd proposed, I never would have done it. I would have been too timid to venture into the world alone, but with him beside me, anything was possible. It's been 18 years since we tied the knot, and life with him is still one great adventure.

I've already skydived, raced cars at breakneck speed and did several other things that, no normal woman in their right mind would attempt to do. I seem to love excitement and risk. The wildest thing that I'm attempting to do right now, might seem tame to all of the wonderful authors here on this blog. It's scarey as all get out to me but, I'm going to do it this year no matter what happens. I'm attempting to write a good book and get it published. You might not think it's too scarey but, to me it's the scariest thing I've ever done. I would even compare it to your fear of amusement rides. Go ahead and laugh. It's ok. All my friends laugh at me getting upset at writing. In the process of racking my brains out to make the story come together, self editing,(more than I'd like to admit to). I've come to respect what all of you wonderful authors do every day. Go ahead and call me a wuss but, I'm determined and, I never back down from a self challenge. I suggest you try to overcome your fear of amusement rides, the same way I'm overcoming my fear of writing a good story. One step at a time. Maybe by the time I'm ready to submit my story, you'll be over your fears too. Heres to us both overcoming our fears. All the best, Mads:)

Shirley, I forgot to tell you. Your book, Back to Mr.& Mrs. came this week. I'm going to be reading it tomorrow. I can't wait to read it. I just love e harlequin. I get to read the books a month before they are on the shelves. Mads:)