When I was young and indestructable (so I thought) I climbed out of the back of a small van and clung onto the roof as it was going along at about 50Mph. My task was to edge up over the roof and wave to the driver through the windscreen. Dangerous but funny - Madness.

This is a very long time ago.

One time a friend and I were driving home about 3:00 a.m. from partying (we were teenagers). The freeway was pretty much deserted, except for 1 car with 2 guys in it. We got our cars even with each other, then passed a joint from car to car.

As tweeners my cousins and I used to fire pop bottle rockets (with report meaning they exploded at the end) at passing cars. We were about 50 yards from the road where it was common for people to drive 70mph or more. I'd hold a pipe like a bazooka, we'd have one loader and one lighter and FIRE. Well we never got too close but one night a pop bottle rocket exploded right in the middle of the windshield. It was perfect. It was awesome. It was spectacular. IT WAS BOSS. IT WAS BTICHEN.......until the truck backed up and came up the drive way. We ran like he'll, dove behind hay bails in the field. He banged on the door, yelled at my mom and told her what we were doing. She said "they don't even have firecrackers" he pointed to all the spent matches and unlit bottle rockets. "What are those"? He demanded. Oh, those wouldn't hurt a fly. After we reconvened, we thought we'd test out how strong they really were. Those of you old enough will remember the thick 10-2-4 Dr. Pepper pop bottles. We put a rocket in upside down, lit it, ran and it blew it into hundreds of pieces. We never bazookaed again. The horrible accidents that could have occurred. What the he'll were we thinking?

I tried to make nitroglycerin in my parents basement. (I had all the ingredients, but didn't get the conditions correct thankfully) I made rocket motors, small explosive devices, flash paper. A small cannon.

Did a fair amount of experimentation with 110v house current, high voltage experiments with car coils.

Jumped off of 2nd story into mattresses and pillows.

Made a 250ft zip line that started about 75ft in the air and went to ground level. Front forks from a bike with an empty rim works great for this.

Used my dads circular saw to shape wood freehand by taping the guard open and turning it on upside down with blade exposed.

Model rockets with fireworks as payloads.

At about 7 I learned you don't fill a large plastic bag with acetylene and touch it off with a lit cigarette. Although it was a sight to behold.
For Science !

I believe worse situations show up to us but that should be a leaving a great experience to anyone no matter whether it is bad or good just learn from it as all of it happens unconsciously from our brain

I've had lots of near-misses and mishaps that were my own doing. I was even married once...lol.

That's a classic! How old were you? I'll bet that this is something that would come with wisdom gained.

We've all done stupid things to achieve the wisdom that we now enjoy. Your story has me reflecting on mine. I remember spraying a de-greaser in my eyes because I was twisted under the car trying to de-grease a CV joint to repack it. I couldn't see which side actually pointed to the tire so I guess I just guessed. It was not a pretty scene.

I was with my partner and her young children on a frosty morning. if you couldn't get the key in the door because of frost a quick blast from a lighter would normally do the trick. there I was at the petrol station with a locked frozen petrol cap, the fuel nozzle and a lighter directly on the locking cap on the tank.

My heart was in my throat just reading this!

Dont feel to bad brother. You live and you learn. You got lucky... the good kind of luck.

I know that I have experienced that kind of thing over the years, more than once I am pretty sure! And it does change your state of mind for some time! The reason I do not remember one of those times at the moment is, I have made a habit of not remembering anymore than necessary to carry into my everyday life! If it is necessary to my living, I must remember, otherwise I forget and live for now!