Go skydiving

For the past couple of days I’ve tried to put into words the feeling, the experience, the sensations… but there are no words that do it justice.

You can try to imagine it, and you can get kind of close. You can dream about flying, and it too is almost right, but not quite. It is something all it’s own.

To try to explain how you can look down and see nothing but air for thousands of feet – and still feel no fear, only peacefulness, only alive... indescribable…

From my Journal:

The entire Skydiving experience was amazing! One of the things I found strangest was the lack of fear. I kept waiting for it to kick in: on the drive, once we were there, signing in, doing the instruction, getting geared up, waiting for the plane, getting on the plane, taking off, being at the door, being pushed out… it never came. There were moments of anxiousness, like practicing the freefall position and my back hurting a bit: worrying that it would be painful holding that position for freefall (it wasn’t). Getting on the plane, there was some nervousness climbing in behind the actively spinning prop. At one point after jumping when my tandem master (Steve?) was adjusting my harness, I had a bodily fear briefly about falling out of the harness. But I think other than those, there was no fear, really. Certainly a rush! When the plane slowed and the green light came on, it was very exciting, watching each group jump out. And standing in the doorway, 12,500’ up, knowing I was going OUT the door was a wild feeling. The sound of the wind was incredible, and the view was indescribable. When the ‘chute unfolded the deceleration was uncomfortably sudden, but what a feeling! It was an amazing bonding experience with everyone who jumped.

Funny: apparently when a group of five or six people sign up, typically one or two show up. Our group started as four, and four of us went! And none of us were afraid. Extraordinary.

The overwhelming feeling was a joyful peace. I’d thought of skydiving as an adrenaline sport, but really, it was a beautifully still experience. I look forward to doing it again!

That was beautiful. That was amazing. I’m still high.

And I was wrong, there wasn’t screaming… it wasn’t like that. All 4 of us kept waiting for that wall of fear to hit, but it didn’t. A few moments of “wooah, I’m about to jump out of a plane from nearly 13,000 feet up, that’s surreal” but even at the door when the warm wind was hitting my face, it was a feeling of being totally awake and focused, but a little dreamy too. I loved that clear brink, right before we leapt off into something I’d never experienced before and couldn’t imagine clearly.

I’d read some experiences on dropzone, one which had described freefall as that sensation when you put your hand out a speeding car window, only your whole body is enveloped in that feeling. I found that a good description. There is no nausea, no roller-coaster feeling, no scrambling terror. It was similar to many of my flying dreams (I’ll be curious how those change after actually doing it). The control you have when you shift your body surprised me.

There was one moment of “hmmmmm” when the chute didn’t fully open, but that was quickly taken care of. After that it was so peaceful. It was a spectacular day, and an amazing view – the mountains, the water, everything green and blue. There is no other way to get a view like that. We did a couple of 360’s by pulling on the toggles (which made me feel a little dizzy, but I feel dizzy when I spin in circles anyhow), again I was floored by the control you have up there.

I’d been a little bit anxious about the landing earlier, but we landed perfectly. I actually landed on my feet in the center of the field target. Easy.

We didn’t spring for the $100 video, but Sam managed to get some great video clips of all of us with his digital camera, and Markus got some great shots from the ground.

Yeah, wow. I can see how it becomes an addiction.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to do it. I think it’s a shame that out of thousands of people here who have this on their list, only a few have actually gone.

If this is on your list, seriously… go!
It’s not how you think it’ll be. (Except for the completely amazing part). It feels incredible to check this off my list, it’s been there forever.

Do it!

gone.

There will be screaming
and adrenaline
and glory.

At least I hope there’ll be glory, but there’ll definitely be screaming.

It’s supposed to be a stunning—I mean beautiful day tomorrow. The perfect day to… oh, I don’t know… jump out of a plane with your brother or something…

The perfect day
to leave some things up there
in the air.

So, in 1.5 days the woman who can’t do a trust fall is going to jump out of a plane. I’m actually not nervous at all (yet). I’m excited.

I’m going to try to leave all the unwanted things I’ve been carrying around with me over the years – all the doubts and fears and negative perceptions and all the self-imposed limitations – in the plane as I freefall. I don’t think they stand a chance of finding me after I leap 12,500 feet away from them. I might even write them down and leave them in an envelope on the plane. Yup, I think I will.

Wanna leap with me?

6 days 6 days 6 days.

What color is your parachute?
Does it taste like chicken?

Yes.

Spaces are reserved for four of us on Aug 26th at 2:00 PM. Much excitement. We’ll be doing tandem jumps from around 12,000 feet.

Well, this is something I’ve always wanted to do, but honestly I’ve been too chickensh*t to actually set plans in motion for making it happen. Yes, finances were also a factor, until my beloved baby brother offered a jump (with him and several others) in lieu of the relaxing massage that was originally to be my Xmas gift. A similar thing, really, relaxing massages and jumping out of an airplane to hurtle towards the Earth. Nearly identical.

I pondered this carefully for a few days before hitting “yes” and joining his team here. I think I’d regret it if I didn’t…

Now I just have to see if the Depends sample arrives in time. When is our appointment with Death (I mean Pacific Skydivers) again? About 3 weeks?

This will indeed be an interesting mental line to step over.