I believe I can Fly

I fly. Yesterday I decided to jump out of a plane. It's something I've wanted to do for a very long time. When I was little, my dad used to take us bungee jumping, and cliff diving, so this was the next step in the natural order. Naturally. I was a little nervous, but not as much as you'd expect a person would be considering they'd be throwing their body out of a plane at 12,500 feet off the ground. We arrived at Skydive Elsinore at 7:30. After checking in, paying a small fortune, and signing our lives away, we headed over to the "training zone". Training began at 8:30. Training consisted of some dude named Steve showing us we'd step to the edge of the open plane door, count to three, step out of the plane, arch our back, head up, and enjoy. It took 10 min. That's it. After 'training', we waited around for another 45 min. My tandem partner, Mike came over and introduced himself. He was hilarious. He told me things like this was his first jump ever and he was really nervous. Lol. Anything to relax me. At about 9:15 we went in to put our harnesses on. Mike checked and re-checked my straps 30 times. I counted. No, I didn't, but it was a lot of times. He apologized and said, "Sorry, I'm a check and re-check kinda guy." I said, "Mike, you have a free pass to my body right now. I you feel the need to check and re-checked the straps around my crotch and boobs, please do....as many times as you'd like." This was my life we were talking about here.



Here's the group of us who went. Brad, Kyle's friends Bryan, me, Kerri (Brad's wife), Kyle, and my Dad. Kerri joined us last min, and stole my "only girl" claim to fame. That's okay, I'm glad she did it. And so was she. So about 9:30 the plane pulls up, we were the 3rd group to jump of the day. We loaded up. The plane sat about 20 of us, but I think it was built for 7. We were all on top of each other. I didn't mind much because I was sitting next to Kerri's hot tandem partner. Wow. What a way to calm down a first time jumper. Place her in the lap of a hottie. I'm not sure if my wanting to go again has to do with the actual jump or him. Haha, just kidding. We had to climb to 12,500 feet to make our jump. But about 7,000 feet a group of like 5 guys jumped out. They were doing one of those synchronized jump things. After they left the plane, it was time to hook ourselves to our partners. We had to sit in their laps for this. Poor Mike. I hope the feeling has returned to his legs. Around this time, Mike was-surprise-checking and re-checking my straps. Then all the sudden we hit 12,500 feet. It all happened so quickly then. I remember looking to the door and seeing my dad, and then not seeing him. He was gone! Then bam, bam, bam. Everyone else was gone to and it was my turn. We were all out of the door within 60 seconds of the first person jumping. It was crazy. I didn't even have time to be scared. After Mike flung our bodies out the door, the magic happened.



I was free fallin'! We reached a speed of 120 mph. You can see the skin trying to peel it's self from my body. So attractive. Free fall was so different then I thought it was going to be. I thought the wind would be coming at me so fast that I wouldn't be able to catch my breath and breathe. Actually, I could breathe just fine. It was an amazing feeling. I WAS FLYING! You all know my obsession with Superman.....well, it's now 10 fold. I don't remember much of what I was screaming, but I think all I could muster was "I.....am.....flying....through....the....air." Congratulations Captain Obvious. After 50 seconds and 5,500 feet of free fall, Mike pulled the parachute cord. See the Orange golf ball on Mike's side? That's the parachute cord. I was SUPPOSED to pull it, but got distracted by all my sensory feelings exploding in overload. No wonder they don't let you jump alone your first time. I'd have been screwed without Mike.



The view was beautiful, and once the parachute was deployed it was so quiet and peaceful. It would be about 5 min before landing. Mike had asked me "Do you like roller coasters?" I answered "yes" without really thinking that through. He started taking us into some turns. If you've ever driven in a car with me, you know I get deathly carsick. Well it happened. I got so sick. I told Mike to stop turning, and that I was going to throw up. He told me, "Please don't do that." Sorry, Mike. I started dry heaving. Thankfully I had purposely not eaten for this very reason. I think Mike was thankful too. Even though I was sick, it was still so awesome to see the view and feel myself floating softly through the sky. It was time for the landing. We came in to touchdown earth with our legs up and skidded on our butts for about 15 feet. It didn't hurt at all, but I did get grass all over myself, including up my back and down my pants. How does that even happen? I don't know either. Freakin' earth.....I am of the sky.



This is Mike and I after touchdown. Look how cute we are. I'd jump with him every time if I had the choice. After this, I headed over to de-harness myself and get my jump certificate and free shirt! Wooowhooo! I love free shirts. I'm wearing it now. The entire experience was so amazing. I loved it, and I can't wait to go back again. We've decided to go again next summer, and get a big group to join us. I think you should do it. It is worth every penny, every nervous twitch, and even every dry heave. I fly.