a tale of three skydivers

 

It’s official: we did it.

This past Wednesday, September 15th, we jumped out of a plane at 10,000 feet and thankfully, had the time of our lives and lived to see another day =)

We = my mom, Nick, and me.

You may remember our last attempt.

This time the skies were clear and the winds, nice and breezy.

Ready for a bazillion photos and far too much narration?

 

 

This is the only picture you’ll see of my my dad in this store. My straight-laced father came along only to watch and support us by videoing our stupidity. He is not a man that can be talked into daredevil stunts and sat perfectly content with his two feet on the ground.

{It’s perfectly normal to mimic your spouse after 36 years of marriage… right?}

 

All suited up!

 

Da planes! Da planes!

{Can you spy with your little eye a tiny red sports car?}

 

When you’re jumping out of a plane and hoping to avoid becoming a small splat on the earth’s surface, your gear consists of straps upon straps of safety gear that are all kinds of uncomfortable.

None of it is kind to your little girl parts or little boy parts, whichever you happen to be sporting that day. Though with all of it’s annoyances, it does the job of which I am T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L for!

The next 2 awkward photos don’t even do the feeling of wearing this get-up justice, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy a little laugh at our expense:

Nick’s predicament courtesy of my paparazzi skills…

And thanks to my mom, a nice shot of me “adjusting” for the 10,385th time on the way to the plane.

Just lovely.

 

There were only two tandem instructors there that day, so mom had to wait for us to get back for her turn. Up we went…

…and down we came!!

 

I jumped first:

 

Then Nick.

 

We met at the bottom with a sweet, oh-so-glad-to-be-alive, kiss.

 

And then it was mom’s turn – and didn’t she look like the professionals with her wind suit?!

 

Mom and her tandem instructor went up with four other skydivers, seen here practicing their air acrobatics before going up:

 

It’s funny to see so many people falling from the sky!

 

Mom was all smiles when she landed and even gave us a big thumbs up:

 

A little background for you: we jumped at 10,000 feet and pulled the rip-cord to send our parachutes flying at 5,500 feet. This resulted in a nice cold freefall for about 30 seconds, with the entire jump from plane to ground totaling around 5 minutes. It’s about 30 degrees colder at 10,000 feet and it’s amazing to feel the gradual temperature change as you’re falling to earth!

There was absolutely none of the queasy stomach feeling you have compared with riding a roller coaster – just a nice smooth freefall and then a gentle slow float to the ground after the parachute is out. It really was a great experience I would recommend to anyone. I have to say that none of us were nervous in the least and were just so READY to jump from all the excitement!

Thanks for all the prayers and crossed fingers – we finally, successfully, skydived and had a BLAST!