Last Saturday, September 19: When you're hooked up to the ropes, they ask you to sit back in the harness, stretch your legs out wide, and put your feet solidly on the wall. Then, you slowly release the rope and slide down.

If you're brave enough, you can bounce along the wall as you go down. I wasn't ready for that, but I felt a real sense of triumph when I got down to the bottom.

All OVER THE EDGE participants who were at the gym supported each other's practice rappels with applause and cheers. It was encouraging and inspiring.

A Special Olympics athlete, who competes in a variety of sports, clambered up the wall twice -- as if he had been doing it all his life. So did a UNM sophomore.

They inspired me: when I go back tonight, I will try to climb the wall to the ledge -- even though it's not necessary for Thursday's rappel.

You can find out more about OVER THE EDGE at this website: www.sonm.org

My personal page is located at www.firstgiving.com/JaneBlume