I went "Over the Edge." Today, 53 others will do the same, all to support Special Olympics of Missouri.
I have never really been up high enough to say if I have a fear of heights, and I never really got nervous about the prospect of rappelling 13 stories down the side of the Jefferson Building in downtown Jefferson City - until I was being geared up in safety equipment.
With others in my time slot watching, I was the first to stand on the edge of the building two stories up for a practice rappel. This was my "test" run; my legs were shaking badly, and I told the safety instructor that I would not be able to do this from 13 stories. He laughed and kindly encouraged me to take a step, and I was off.
Stepping off the ledge from atop the 13th story was no less nerve-wracking than it was minutes before when I did the "training" rappel.