I was supposed to follow up my last post with a description of my next step for curbing the sugar addiction. However, I can't pass up not telling you about my thrill-seeking experience.
Yesterday, I did something I can cross off the proverbial list, something I never thought I'd actually do. I went skydiving!
All I can say is WOW! Crazy, scary, thrilling, amazing kind of wow!
Honestly I was scared, and I even had second thoughts I as read through page after page of release and consent forms that noted in bold, capital letters: SKYDIVING CAN RESULT IN DEATH! My husband and his brother laughed, but I said, "This is serious stuff! I feel like I'm signing my life away!" It also didn't help that they were singing "Bodies" by Drowning Pool. 'Boys!'
I thought to myself, "And why am I doing this?" But then another part of me countered that thought with, "Face your fears! Do something crazy and fun! Expand your limits!" That crazy/fun side of me won.
We all jumped in tandem, which means each of us were attached to an experienced skydiver, who had the parachute. However, my biggest fear was not necessarily the falling, but that the parachute would fail to open! My instructor was really cool, though and calmed my fears. He helped me get in the harness properly and double checked everything, letting me know safety was paramount for him.
I wore a blue suit that reminded me of the Fantastic Four characters. After secured tightly in our gear and practicing the proper jump moves, we ambled out to the propeller plane and sat cramped, in a line, one in front of the other. I was reminded of the movie, Band of Brothers, as they sat in the plane heading off towards Normandy on D-Day. Only in this instance, we weren't being shot at!
At 14,000 feet the plane door opened and one by one we jumped off of a perfectly good and working airplane. I was towards the end of the line and slowly scooted along the narrow bench closer and closer to the opened door, watching those before me make their jumps.
The scariest part for me was seeing my husband tumble away from the plane as my instructor and I positioned ourselves for our jump. "Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed. "I'm scared!" But before I had time to analyze the situation, my instructor, to whom I was attached, was shouting, "Ready! Set!..." And out we jumped.
I screamed, but I couldn't hear my voice because a blast of cool air hit my face and roared in my ears. I arched my back like we practiced on the solid ground and opened my eyes. We were falling through a cloud. I saw the earth below.
Surprisingly, the free fall didn't feel like a roller coaster, where your stomach is slow to catch up with the rest of your body. No, the free fall really did feel like flying. It was loud, the air was cool, and my ears popped a little, but once you get over the fear factor, it's actually a really amazing experience.
After a minute of falling to the earth at 120 mph, we were at the right altitude to pull the parachute lever. And it opened without a hitch - Praise God!
This was my favorite part of the whole adventure - gliding to the ground via a parachute. Suddenly the roaring wind was replaced by silence. I laughed and could hear my laughter. My instructor showed me how to steer the parachute as we glided over farm land, ponds and even a road. The view was amazing! Think of looking out the window of an airplane, only you're not in the airplane!
All too soon it was over, and we landed perfectly on our feet. My instructor and I hugged. "Awesome job!" Then, after getting detached and out of the harness, I went in search of my husband who was beaming. He gave me a hug and kiss. "You did it!" he exclaimed.
Yes, I did do it, and even had the matted, windblown hair to prove it.
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16 comments ↓
OMG that is so awesome!!!! Woot!
You are BRAVE! I don’t think I could jump out of a plane! Great job!
Awesome!
My wife and I did this a couple of years ago. I had purchased it for her as a birthday gift, and then, on her suggestion, I did it also. It was such a scary feeling stepping out of the plane, but as you described so well about the free fall and parachute, it’s a great experience. I’ll remember it always!
It can sure be fun to do something like this that you’ve never done before – way to go!
That’s so cool! What a great experience. I’m so afraid to skydive but I REALLY want to at the same time. Good for you!!
Thanks for sharing such a detailed account. This is one of those things I’d love to work up the nerve to try someday.
Thanks everyone! I tell ya, I was nervous, but I’m glad I did this. It’s one of those things that pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me overcome my fears, or at least deal with them!
It was worth it, and the whole experience was pretty awesome!
that is SO COOL.
definitely on my list of TO DO BEFORE 50!
M.
That sounds wonderful! I would love to try it one day too.
I think it’s cool that so many of you want to go skydiving! Skydiving isn’t for everybody, though, but if this sounds like something you really really want to do, I say go for it!
However, I recommend doing your homework first. Make sure you understand the risks involved since skydiving literally is throwing yourself out of a airplane at the mercy of gravity and a reminder that the ground isn’t exactly a cushion for falling human bodies.
Go with a good skydiving company that is certified by the United States Parachute Association. You can most likely check out skydiving companies in your area on the Internet, complete with info on how the jumps are performed.
Jump with an experienced and licensed jumper. Listen to their instructions, and ask questions.
And always always make sure that safety is paramount for the company and the instructors!
One more thing… if you do go skydiving one day, I would love to hear about your experience… even if you end up jumping years down the road!
I think I could probably only skydive with Micah there. Because if something with wrong then maybe we’d both die. I don’t particularly want either of us to die. And I’m pretty terrified of skydiving anyway. In general, I think not. Ever.
Mrs. Micah,
That was my biggest fear – that something would go wrong and the parachute wouldn’t open! I told my instructor, and he said he had thousands of jumps under his belt without incident and that all the jumpers in that particular company check and double check everything.
He triple checked our equipment and once more right before jumping… mostly I think to make me feel a lot calmer!
But it did help a lot that he inspected each check point with me and voiced that everything was secure and good to go.
Actually, what calmed me down the most was when he said, “Safety is important to me. I have dinner plans tonight, and I plan on being there!”
But yeah, there’s still always a risk!
Oh. My. God.
You are my hero today! There is no way I would ever jump out of a plane. I can’t even stand on a table, I have such a fear of heights.
(And thanks, Mizfit, for saying this is something you want to do before you turn 50 – I don’t have to because, darn it, I’m over 50!!! Hehehehehehe.)
The Bag Lady,
You’re sweet! I’m honored to be your hero for the rest of today!
Oh, you have a valid point about the dangers of standing on tables. I prefer not to stand on them myself. I’ve seen too many folks fall off or break them. Plus, you don’t even get a parachute for the table standing! Yes, much too dangerous.
Skydiving is on my list also! That is great that you were able to tackle that challenge!
Susan – you cracked me up!! Thanks!
[...] Fitness Life went skydiving. That’s one thing that I’ve never had a desire to do. However, I would like to try hang [...]
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