Here are 10 things that “normal” people are not supposed to do. How they happened is beyond me.
Maybe that’s why my life is still filled with magic. And if things like this can happen to a kid who grew up in the poverty of the Appalachians, they can happen to YOU!
- Assisted a cardiologist in heart surgery.
- Had a bush plane drop me deep in the Alaskan wilderness with only a tent and a raft with the grizzlies in Kodiak Island—for a week.
- Hiked through a rainforest in the Blue Mountains of Australia.
- Had a tribal meal on the floor of a yurt with a nomadic family in remote Kyrgyzstan.
- Sang a solo in front of 30,000 people at the Hoosierdome before a presidential address. (No, it was not the Star Spangled Banner and it was the president of the Southern Baptist Convention.)
- Had my tent torn to pieces by a grizzly while backpacking high in the Grand Tetons.
- Attained pure summits of four fourteen thousand foot mountains (14ers) including the highest mountain in the contiguous United States.
- Savored a bottle of 1975 Chateau d Yquem and a 1990 Quintarelli Amarone.
- I have met the “holy trinity” of male rock vocalists, Don Henley, Michael McDonald and Peter Cetera.
- Ran 23 marathons. (yes, 26.2 miles each)
Question: What is something YOU have done that normal people are not supposed to do?
12 responses to “10 Things “Normal” People Are Not Supposed To Do!”
Awesome stuff Randy! I recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa (19,340′ elevation) to help raise money for African AIDS orphans. It was an amazing, life changing experience and the hardest thing I have ever done. Not bad for a slightly overweight 50 year old. :) And by the way, we had an 85 year old gentleman in our group who made it to the first summit at 18,500 feet, and that set a new world record for the oldest person to reach that point on the mountain!
That is AMAZING!!!!!!! Steve. What an accomplishment!! and for a GREAT cause!! Awesome!!
Wow! Who can top ALL of that in one life?!
I’ve zip-lined above the rain forest in Honduras. My teammates and I had just finished drilling a fresh-water well within sight of the ocean- in a small village of wonderful people of West African descent. It was thought to be impossible to find fresh water there. Awesome experience!
All of that sounds incredible, Lori! Especially finding fresh water for the village!
I’ve taken a road trip with friends from Seattle to Vancouver, had church in a field in the Romanian countryside, spent three weeks in Germany with my sister, got a little lost in the Netherlands, shook hands with Wes Bently, and moved moved to Hawaii.
Nice, Anita. I love your list!!
Awesome adventures Randy! I’ve nothing like that to share, but here goes: I toured eastern US, Ontario Maritime Canada from age 14-18 singing in tons of churches. Once played drums in the 8000 seat Farm Show arena Harrisburg PA. Played drums on my first recording when was 14. And I’ve had lunch with Randy Elrod (you know him? He’s done some pretty amazing things) :)
Ha! Paul, those things are awesome!! I think I’ve had lunch with that Randy guy too. :)
Chris,
I especially like that last one, even though your list is amazing!! “I’ve sat next to Philip Yancey and had a lunch conversation with Tim Sanders. ;)” at #recreate12. YES!!!!
Wow, Randy! I think this list added a few things to my bucket list. And to think that you have many more adventures still ahead of you. I’m convinced that Eternity will be like this too – a constant exploration of God and things He’s done, constantly coming around another bend and being wowed by something new.
I don’t have much for myself that’s out of the norm. My family, growing up, wasn’t that adventurous, and, oddly, it never occurred to me until after I was settled down with a family that I could actually take steps to go out there and do some of those crazy things I’d seen other people do.
I’ve flown stunts, including loops, and lazy eights (as a passenger) in an old open cockpit biplane. I hung out in the Goddard Space Center and watched them building a module that was later added to the Hubble telescope. I saw amazing northern lights in Alaska and sat under the stars in a hot spring while it was -20 F outside. Created videos for the International Synodical Convention of the Lutheran church two years ago. And I got to create the music for some successful online games, one of which was the inspiration for Angry Birds.
I’ve sat next to Philip Yancey and had a lunch conversation with Tim Sanders. ;)
Crud Randy, I feel like I am really missing out on something… My life must be a bore!
No,no,no, Douglas…..what is something YOU have done that normal people have not done…I know you have something…All of us have unique experiences…