jumping out of a perfectly good plane

yesterday i went with two of my close friends here in miami to go sky diving.

it was an adventure to say the least.

i've always been one for adventure, as long as it was pretty safe (not going to cause me too much bodily harm or discomfort). as a child i avoided fair and amusement park rides like the plague and have never liked jumping off tall structures.

the days leading up to the jump i had no idea what to expect. i know very few people that have actually made the jump so i had no one to really tell me what it was like. i relate it to in '03 when i flew to hawaii to do missions (it was my first flight-if you haven't noticed, i like to go all out for my first time at things- first flight across the pacific, first jump off something high at 13,500 ft) before flying, i asked people what it was like. i had some say it was like riding a roller coaster at take-off, others said it was like riding in a car, but you know you're 35,000 feet above the ground. so, because of the unknown, i was nervous, excited, but nervous.

the same went for the diving. i had nothing to compare it to.

oddly enough, my nerves went away the closer we got to the actual jump. when we arrived, it still didn't seem real. it was still an idea. we started to suit up and get instructions, and everything started to become real. it helped that an 80-something year old man walked in, signed the waivers, and started to suit up with us. his name was larry. he's a former marine from WWII, and makes the jump every year. he was a cool guy. he talked about making the jump every year for his birthday and a lot of UM stuff (he told stories about the stadium he wants them to build at least 12 times) i was honored to have him along.

we boarded a small plane and sat down practically on top of each other. at this point, as we started to ascend into the heavens, my nerves were all but gone, to be replaced with nothing but curiosity, excitement, and wonder. one thing that helped calm my nerves was the fact that my friend tricia was right beside me obviously freaking out, questioning if she could do it. it forced me to be strong and act calm.

i rose to my knees, inched toward the edge of the aircraft, felt a rocking, then was out the door. i wish i could explain the feeling. there were so many sensations, and moments all packed into that brief moment. for maybe half a second my stomach sunk, but then went away, and that feeling was replaced with euphoria.

i had not even gotten fully out of the plane when i had the thought "i can't believe i just did that. there's no turning back." my ears popped super hard and it was hard to hear anything but my own thoughts and rushing wind.

the fall was 60 seconds, that seem to last 10. it went by quick. i tried to play up to the camera that was on the head of the diver beside us filming the entire thing as well as look around and soak up everything i could. i tried to look straight down, thinking about the cold, hard truth that i was falling at over 120 mph towards the ground. i looked ahead and around at the horizon knowing that i, as most, only see this view out of a plane window at some point, but here i am with a front row, very real, seat to it all.

the chute opened up around 5,000 feet above ground and we floated down to earth for about 6 minutes. the view was amazing. it was so peaceful and quiet. i was actually able to catch up to my friend scott and float beside him for a few seconds. then we landed right on the bull-eye down below.

my legs were wobbly for a second because i had gone from weightlessness to normal so quickly. i wanted to go right back up and do it again.

i would highly recommend the adventure to anyone. it makes you feel alive like nothing else i've ever experienced before, or probably ever will.

i can't wait to go again

more pictures to come soon.

peace