Skydiving Part II: So I flew.

Excerpt from Life Goal List:
23. Skydive - Completed on 10/9/10

Late Saturday afternoon I drove to the middle of nowhere Tennessee to jump out of a plane. With a stressful week (and semester), this seemed like the right thing to do. I watched an intimidating video about the risk of paralysis due to skydiving, signed away my rights, and waited my turn. Due to the large numbers of jumpers and quick plane runs, everything seemed to happen last minute. This actually worked in my favor because I had little time to think about exactly what I was going to do.

About ten minutes before boarding the plane, I got a quick lesson on correct skydiving positioning while getting suited and harnessed. I met my tandem partner, Tim, as we walked to the aircraft. We crammed into the plane while Tim buckled us together and told me our upcoming sequence of events and exactly what to do. “Make sure you keep your head on my left shoulder, arch your back, and when I go like this you can put your arms out,” he said. But of course I forgot everything. I guess that’s what happens when you jump from 14,000 feet in the air.

Next thing I knew, we tumbled out of the plane and Tim was pulling my legs back as we soared through the sky at over 100 mph, belly down with arms and legs out. It was an overwhelmingly intense feeling of freedom and uncertainty. A minute later, Tim pulled the parachute cord and the harness uncomfortably tightened as we zipped back up in the air. He let me control the chute and spiral over the newly red and yellow leafed trees, all with the setting sun in view. B-E-A-UTIFUL! Before I knew it, Tim was telling me to hold my legs straight out in front of me as we prepared to butt slide next to the target.

And just like that it was over. I was left with knots in my hair, an adrenaline rush, and questions about when I would jump again. Later, a few of the jumpers put on a spectacular fireworks show to end a great day! (Video footage to come!)

What's next?

Cause I left all my doubts on the airplane
I didn’t know I’m not in control
I didn’t know I’m not invincible.
–“Oviedo” by BP