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Turns out I was wrong about how many there were — there are only a couple in this country, I just happened to be where one was, in Pigeon Forge, when I was visiting Dollywood several times one year.

I also have been to some place where they set up a “standing” version of the Zorb; the ball was places in a small pool, and some contraption would then bounce it around and make it spin over. Obviously only dangerous if the ball bounced out, and you put the poll next to a deep gorge.

I am scared of heights, but that is part of the thrill. It’s one of the things I like about coasters, the thrill of being scared. I had a very hard time stepping off the platform when I did zip-line (my fear of heights is great enough that it is one of my three big dream-nightmare scenarios, and I can literally become frozen on a ladder if I don’t mentally focus).

Interestingly, I found that if I can get myself into a “controlled” position, it is easier — meaning if the rope is taut, and I am already hanging, it isn’t hard to push off into the abyss. But allowing myself to fall out into the abyss before jerking the rope taut is very much harder — I took a minute to do a simple 12-foot rappelling wall at a conference, simply because I had to fall backwards over the edge before the rope became taut.

I also don’t like spinning things, and I don’t like the clear lack of control of random spins (so I can ride a scrambler, I don’t like it but I know how long the ride will last and how I’ll spin, but I can’t get into one of those balls that launch into the air on a bungee, because I just don’t know how many times I’ll flip over. My son however is going to get me on one soon, maybe next year — I like to confront my fears).