The Gist of “Catching Up: Reflections on Months of Silence”
- Today marks Ruth’s and my 35th wedding anniversary, and we decided to celebrate by visiting the Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth.
- Heights aren’t my thing, so suggesting the tower surprised Ruth and me, given my usual fear of climbing stairs.
- The tower offers stunning views, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a challenging Sky Walk—a glass floor 100 meters above the ground.
- Despite my fear, I attempted the Sky Walk—I didn’t really. But I did managed to circle the platform while clinging to Ruth and any support I could find!
- Although I didn’t conquer the Sky Walk, I faced my fears for Ruth and ended up enjoying the experience more than I expected—believe that if you want!
- The day turned into a memorable adventure that Ruth and I will cherish, and I hope there are many more to come. Happy Anniversary, Ruth!
Today is Ruth and my 35th wedding anniversary. While deciding what to do to celebrate this milestone, I suggested the Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. Heights and I don’t mix, and Ruth knows this all too well, so my suggestion probably shocked her; I know it surprised me. After all, I could barely reach the top of our stairs without feeling giddy, so the thought of standing 100 meters above the ground on a viewing platform was more than a little unsettling.
The views from the tower are incredible, even if you don’t have the nerve to get to the viewing window. The glass is floor-to-ceiling and wraps 180° around the platform. You can see the harbour, ships, and the sea stretching out as far as you can see—or 23 miles on a good day. But the real test for me? The Sky Walk. Imagine walking across a glass floor with nothing but 60mm of glass between you and the world below. I could feel my legs turning to jelly just thinking about it. Let alone walking up to the point where one step becomes a giant leap for mankind—well, for me, anyway.
But, you know what? I walked across that glass, heart pounding. The first time Ruth was beside me, as she’s always been, steady and calm, her hand in mine. However, the second time, I went solo. The view through that glass was surreal, as were my feelings—a mix of awe and fear all wrapped up in one dizzying moment. I should write, “It made me think about how we’ve faced many challenges together, each making us stronger.” Alas, it didn’t. It made me think, “Whose stupid f***ing idea was this?”
OK! Hands up! I didn’t. I did not walk the Sky Walk; I barely managed one trip around the platform while holding on to Ruth and any other object I could find. But at least I did battle my fears for Ruth. I did go up the tower for her and went up twice.
Despite my initial fears about the height, I genuinely enjoyed the Spinnaker Tower experience—believe that if you want! That said, the sense of accomplishment of crossing the Sky Walk was surprising—I even found myself lingering to take in its unique perspective—OK, I know you know I didn’t! However, in the end, what started as a nerve-wracking idea became a memorable adventure that Ruth and I will never forget—unless dementia… No, don’t go there!
Hopefully, Ruth, you enjoyed our day out, and there will be many more. Happy Anniversary, Ruth X