Skydiving!
Since I was in high school, I wasted to go skydiving. I know. Crazy, right. Who in there right mind would willingly jump out of an airplane? I did, however, have many "excuses" not to.
When I weighed almost 300 lbs, skydiving seemed a bit unrealistic.
It was expensive for a high school/college kid.
No one would go with me (although my friend Robert once said he would, but then he went and entered the military and the opportunity passed).
Then I graduated college, started teaching, and became a "grown up."
Next came children and more busy-ness.
And life got in the way, like it does with many things on our own personal "Bucket Lists.". When you have other people, especially children, in your life, your needs tend to sometimes get pushed back to second. Which is what happened with skydiving.
As many of you reading this know. I recently lost over 150 lbs. I think I mentioned a few times to my husband during the "losing" process that I would finally jump once I lost all the weight. But, once again, life and kids got in the way. And maybe, in the back of my head, I thought I was crazy too. I have done many other thrill seeking type activites, like the bungee slingshot at the zoo, evey crazy roller coaster I could, traveled the world, ect. So, I come by my crazy thill seeking honestly. (ask me about the first time I rode an upsde down rollarcoaster at age 7 with my mom...)
But...SURPRISE! For my 30th birthday and 6th Anniversary, my husband and my parents, and grandparents got together to send me skydiving!
So, yesterday, we showed up at Skyranch Skydiving so that I could fly 10000 feet in the air and jump out of a perfectly good airplane (tandem of course). The hanger was a stereotypical, out of the movies, parachutes everywhere, pilots and other just hang in out eating, drinking (not alcohol), and shooting the breeze.
We checked in, watched a video about the assumption of risk agreement where I signed that if the chute didn't open, if the plane crashed, or if a bird flew into me in the air, I would not sue anyone. My favorite quote from the owner was "the state of Arkansas (we were in Siloam Springs) has decided that sky diving is an extreme and dangerous risk, but we here at Skyranch just see it a's additional risk....if you never drive a car, you will never wreck one...if you never jump out of a plane...you will never fall to your death.". Haha!
So...we signed and initialed all the paperwork and then I was "trained" for 20 minutes. Something about chicken wings, chin up, and arch your back...and RELAX and smile for the camera! Then don't forget when you land to keep your feet up so that your tantem dive master can land and not break your ankles...and RELAX and smile for the camera.
Seriously, I was wondering if they were more concerned about the camera than me. :) (the video..by the way, is awesome)
We hung out with the other crazy jumpers for about an hour while we waited our turn...my turn. Tony spent most of the time talking to a young man who is stationed at fort hood, but grew up working at sky ranch, folding chutes and such until he joined the military at 18. I think Tony really enjoyed the conversation as he was stationed at fort hood back in the day. Thoughts and prayers are with that young man because he is re-listing and debating going into warrant officer training and trying to go back overseas. We wish him the best and pray for his protection!
Finally, I got "suited" up with a harness, googles over my glasses, and got ready to go! At this point, I was trying not to show my nervousness, but really, who wouldnt be nervous. The camera guy did a little pre-jump interview for my memory video, I met my dive master Hoyt, and we got into the little Sesna plane. Again, not trying to show my nervousness, I got in. I think Hoyt and my camera guy (whose name I have already forgotten) were used to nervous people, because they were good at making some small talk over the incredibly loud engine of the plane. I don't think I have over flown in a plane that small...but my nephew did get to fly one last year. :)
We flew up 9500 feet (about two miles) and then got ready to Jump. The camera guy went first so that he could film and take pictures of my terrified face. The I leaned out the door, and basically fell out the door as Hoyt pushed us out from behind. RELAX and smile!
The camera man was right there!
WOW! At this point, it was hard to really look down or do much because of the air pressure. We were traveling at 122+ miles per hour. It was intense. I almost yelled "I quit" although did quickly realize it was too late for that. At that height, the world looks like a google map.
Although, I wasn't really thinking about looking down. Really, it was the most intense part of the ride. Almost painful with the rush of air. not really a sense of falling, almost a sense of being forced to stay in the air from the wind. RELAX and smile!
Then 31 seconds and 5000 feet later, Hoyt opened the chute! It wasn't too bad of a jolt, and once we slowed down and we were under the canopy of the parachute, it was BEAUTIFUL!
It was surreal. It didn't feel like falling, at all. There was not a sensation of "oh my god I am falling to the earth!". It felt like I was just hanging in the air. Just chillin' 4500 feet in the air. Hoyt gave me the reins, so to speak, and let me turn us and do some different tricks in the air. I can totally see why people do this all time. I loved the feeling of flying.
Hoyt was a great dive partner. Very calm and reassuring. I could have hung out there forever! it was just crazy. Hard to describe unless you have done it. Much better than the free fall.
At some point, we could see everyone waiting for us on the ground...including my supportive hubby who was taking pictures. :) But, like all good things, it was time to land. Since it was a windy day, we landed in a sit down land instead of a running land. Not as graceful, but it was a weird let down feeling when we landed. I was a little dizzy at first, feeling that rush of adrenaline leaving my body.
Tony was right there for a big hug! And the camera man was there to capture the reunification. SMILE!
Amazing! It was just amazing! But it happened so quickly! I can totally understand why people do it more than once. It is such a rush, but over too quickly. Hoyt will jump out of that plane 10 times in one day! Wow. How fun would that be! Seriously!
We hung out for about 30 minutes, letting my heart stop racing, my breathing to return to normal, and my video/still pictures to be processed. We also checked on the oU score. We were in the heart of razorback land, but most of the guys knew the score. :)
Finally, after almost two hours, we drove off. Still a tad shaky, but still exhilarated. I can't wait to get to a DVD player and watch my video and a computer to have a chance to upload my still shots from the air. What an amazing experience!!! I hope I get to do it again sometime!!!! Anyone want to go with me?!?