Falling with STYLE

Some may ask, why we do the things we do.... this weekend I cannot answer why we did the things we did!!

Over the soccer season, we have had the opportunity to watch skydivers fall to their 'death' but not really, and land next to the fields. Every time I saw someone in the air... I would lean over to Steve and mention how I thought it would be so fun to skydive. Never in my life did I actually think I would go- but it was a nice thought- until about a week ago.

Steve called me from work one morning informing me that he had booked us a skydiving trip for Friday, May 20, 2011 at 10:00am. For a whole week, I had the chance to think about it, get nervous, think a little more, and get more nervous!! I think for a moment or two, Steve did not expect to go through with it.

Friday morning came and at 10am there we sat at Skydive Ameila signing our lives away, putting on the proper equipment, checking out the plane, learning how to jump (FALL) out of the perfectly good plane, and land (if we made it) safely.

We finally got on the plane around 11:00 and I have to say, I was finally calm. I was ready and surprisingly excited! The plane... was SMALL.... the four of us (jumping) and the pilot was all that would fit. I do not think we could get another parachute on board even if we wanted to.

About 15 minutes into an amazing flight, we reached 14,000 ft. and got ready to fall.... I mean jump. Steve went first and was about half way down before we actually made it out the door. Looking out the door was nothing but exhilarating. I was finally ready!! As Darren (my tandem jumper- I was his 17,322 career jump) yelled a loud YOOHOO- we were out and flying. It was the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life. What a perfect place to skydive. We had the coastline, the river and the marsh scenery and it was beautiful.
I do have to say- as soon as the parachute was pulled, Darren thought it would be fun to spin in circles..... me not so much. I feel like a wimp for saying this... but my stomach could not handle spinning. I had to ask (more like tell) Darren if he did not want puke all over him he had to stop. Thankfully for both of us he stopped and we were able to have a slow and peaceful drop. What a day!!

I am happy to say- when Steve comes home next summer from Afghanistan, we will be going again and this time... with his Mom and sister Heather (Mike too if we can convince him....)

Enjoy the pictures...

Before we left...

Diedrick, Steve, Darren, and me

No turning back now....

So happy!!
Im ALIVE!! and I DID IT!! were my only two thoughts...