Okay Susan, now that I have stopped vomiting, I can comment. Firstly I could NEVER do what you did. Nor could I jump from a plane, though friends have done it! As a metaphor for living, PERFECT.

Some years ago, when bungey jumping was BIG, I watched in horror, on TV, as a young girlf from NZ, jumped. Unfortunately someone had omitted to secure her rope to the lock, so she plunged to her death.

As I read your story I felt physically ill. But yes, taking up bolder challenges is what life is all about, as long as they are not ones that remove a platform from beneath my feet. GEAT article.