Day 16: Are you chicken

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 16: Are you chicken

Just about everyone, at one time or another, has been asked … ‘Are you chicken?’ While some people might be offended by the question, it doesn’t bother me in the least. I am chicken, I freely admit it.

The first time I was called chicken was in Gold Reef City, Johannesburg, South Africa. We were standing in front of ‘The Golden Loop’ and my mother – ever the daredevil – wanted to go on the ride. She turned to my dad who puffed out his cheeks and shook his head. When she turned to me I did the same, with even more conviction. And with good reason.

During the testing phase of the Golden Loop, the carriage had come off the tracks and flown through the air. Take a look at the photo … do you see that flag at the top of the construction? That’s where it happened. Not ones, not twice, but several times. 

No way was I going on that ride.

The second time was right here in Toronto.

For my parent’s 50^th wedding anniversary, I had booked a table in the restaurant at the CN Tower. After our meal, we went to the lower level of the tower where there the observation deck and the glass floor are located. Mom dared me to walk across the glass floor.

Even though I’ve been assured that the floor is strong enough to hold ten elephants, I didn’t risk it.

A few years later the CN Tower opened ‘The Edge Walk’. An adventure where folks walk on top of the CN Tower. Dieter was all for it.

“How about it?” he asked.

I gave him a look. Wild horses couldn’t drag me up there.

“Chicken,” he said.

Yeah well, better a life chicken than a dead chicken.

I mean, look at what these folks are doing up there. Not a hair on my head even considers doing something so ludicrous!

A few days ago my dear son called me chicken again. He’d seen a video online where the camera first shows a normal sized spider and next shows a Goliath bird-eating spider. He saved the video to show me later. Then again, knowing my fear of spiders he thought it might not be a good idea.

“Is it big?” I asked him.

“Oh yeah,” he said.

“Bigger than a tarantula?”

“Much bigger,” he said. “Its legs are 30 cm (11.8 inches) each.”

OMG, that was a BIG spider. Did I want to see the video?

“Let me think about it,” I said.

“Chicken?” he said.

Yeah well, yes, right now I could only imagine the size of that beast, but if I actually saw it on the video … it might give me nightmares.

I debated for 48 hours and finally decided that I didn’t want to see it. Chicken or no chicken. And would you believe it … even though I hadn’t seen the spider, I had a nightmare about it anyway.

So, the next time someone calls you chicken, don’t get upset, go along with it. From one chicken to another, we’re not scared, we’re just careful. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.