I was absolutely out of my element the day we went to sky dive. First, I have to say how much I despise planes. I cannot get on a plane without taking heavy medication. How in the world did I get on an airplane and jump out of it...well OK I did not jump I was picked up by lance (my instructor).
It all started when my oldest sister Maryann sent a text with, "will you go sky diving with me on my 35Th birthday?" my first reaction was your serious? Then my next reaction was to tell Kenny. Kenny of course was in for the ride with both feet hanging from the plane. This may be the reason I first started to consider going with them. I guess it all came together when we found out my brother would want to go with everyone as well. He lives out of the country so there was only a limited time frame we would be able to go. Given that I am the planner in the family I started to look up skydiving websites, get costs, and arrange the time and day.
Once I finally picked the place I asked the lady on the phone what happens if someone goes through the video and the training but cannot go through with the jump. she confirmed not to worry you do not have to pay if you cannot go through with the jump but if you get on the plane and you cannot get out of the plane then you have just paid for a plane ride. Perfect right!
We all got ready on Saturday morning after Christmas got to Houston skydiving, signed the paper work which stated every other line "in case you die....", we then watched the video that the whole purpose was to let you know "when you die you or any of your heirs can not sue." we were scheduled to jump at noon. We were all standing around and realized it was about 12:45 and finally asked why we were not going yet? The lady explained the clouds were about 5000ft too low and we were more than welcome to wait for them to clear or we could come back tomorrow. We all decided to come back on Sunday. The whole night I could not sleep. I just kept seeing the man in the video telling me I was going to die.
When we woke up on Sunday it was a strikingly gorgeous day, not a cloud in the sky. We get to skydive Houston and from the word we are all here it seemed to just go, go, go, go, go. Kenny and my 66 year old uncle Omar were going to be on the first plane, Teri and I on the second plane and Maryann and pat on the third. We all determined to get camera men so we were not all going to fit on the one plane. The man called my name and said OK go put your ensemble on. He then instructed me when we were on the plane we would have to move towards the door, look to your left at the camera man and then jump. I whispered, “what happens if I freeze up there?” Lance said, “do not worry I can pick you up and push you out if you tell me now that is what you want me to do”. Eagerly I told him, “Yes please push me out b/c as soon as we are out I know I will be OK”.
Well let me just tell you now from this point on it seemed as if I was out of my body!
We get on the airplane and out of everyone I am the only one not looking out the window. I have my head down trying not to throw up because every time I get on a plane during the takeoff I throw up. Teri says to me, “Linda look out the window we are not even off the ground yet”, I shook my head no thanks and kept it down. Then the door opens and there is a jumper just looking out the door. The pilot yells, "get out of the plane, jump!" the jumper just stays there...at this point I am not sure if this guy knows what he is doing, if he froze or what. the pilot again very insensitively yells, "get out of the plane, jump!" then lance...who is attached to me as if he is riding piggy back on my back, roars "the pilot said jump that means you jump!" Teri and I looked at each other like...oh shit this is not happening. Finally the jumper jumped and they closed the door. Teri's camera man comes up to Teri and says, "OK Teri we are about half way there any last words?" I at the point instantly look at her and say, "half way there? Who talked us into this?" Teri of course just laughs at me.
The door at last opens all over again and lance tells me we are going first. I freaked. he told me to move my legs, he then started to yell in my ear, "move your legs, move your legs." I looked down at my legs and I could also see out of the door and I started to think in my head, "move my legs? What legs? i can’t move my legs shit I can’t feel my legs"....and then we were out the opened door! I am sure I said, "oh-f***" I had my eyes closed while he picked me up and pushed me out but I really think they were closed for a second because I felt my stomach come up over my head and I thought Linda what are you doing open your eyes, open your eyes.
The instant I opened my eyes I believe if the wind was not pounding at my face I would have cried. It was completely astonishing. There are no words for me to express being able to feel the wind in your face while flying, ok so we were falling. The world was beneath me and all I could do is consider how much the Lord as really given us. The parachute opened and at this instant I was taken aback. That was when I was able to really look from side to side and see the world. I did not want the adventure to end. I wanted to hang about in the air for days. At last we did get to ground and the venture did come to an end. When I was on the ground I just kept replaying the excitement over and over in my head flabbergasted at myself I had just went skydiving. Kenny just kept saying, “Linda, I am so proud of you.”
I did find out that when I was in the air there was a pool on the ground if I would make it out of the plane or not. That made me laugh. I can tell you if MaryAnn would never have texted me, and Kenny not influenced me, I would have never have moved my cheese!
