Father's Day, 2015

I woke up Sunday bright and early. I had several things I needed to get done today.

1. Call my dad and wish him a Happy Father's Day.
2. Pick up my friend Stephanie from the transit center.
3. Jump out of an airplane 2.5 miles above the ground at speeds of 120mph.

I did all of theses things and then some.

The weekend before Danny, Stephanie, and I had tried going skydiving. We were at the location for a few hours. They called our names. We got strapped into the plane. We reached altitude... And couldn't jump because there were too many clouds and not enough holes in those clouds in which we could, legally, fall through. So. We landed. I would have preferred jumping to landing because I never like landing in airplanes. And this was a small Cessna. Maybe 12 people including the pilot? Not a smooth landing like the big planes.

So... We got a free plane ride of the north shore. It was breathtaking. Absolutely amazing and I would do it again in a heart beat.

Back to Sunday... We get to Pacific Skydiving and get bumped to the front because we couldn't go the weekend before. My tandem guy this go-round was a lot taller than me (last week he was about the same hight as me and retired from the army; my man Caylon was about my age or so) and was fun and flirty. Danny got a serious jumping partner who didn't really match his personality. I didn't get to meet Stephanie's jump-mate but she liked him very much.

We walk out to the plane and Caylon tells me he's done over 2,500 jumps and never had to use his reserve. This comforts me until he tacks on,with a conspiratorial wink, "but that just means I'm due for it."

Really?! Gah!! You want me to leap out of a plane with you?! Crazy mo-fo...

We board the plane and talk some more until we reach altitude. We snap selfies with the GoPro on Caylon's arm. He teases me for having loose straps (which make more sense while we're gliding down... I'll get there!). He tells me to hook my hands around them like overalls and pull the straps to my chest. Then to put my head down so my nose touches my fingers. Now? Pray. Funny man, that Caylon. Funny, funny man...

I'm feeling good, not too stressed. I did this last week. I'm totally fine. And then... Then they open the door. And the student diver and his instructor literally fling themselves out of the plane. Like, one minute they're they and you blink and they drop out of view. Phffffftttt!! Gone.

I about lost my breakfast right then. I know my eyes got big behind my goggles and my mouth was probably hanging open like loon. I started freaking. I think I shook my head a few times. What did I get myself into?

Before I could question it further,Danny starts scooting forward for his jump. Phffffftttt!! Gone.

I'm next.

Caylon leans in and says something about being ready. Or something else. He could have been saying he was a terrorist with a bomb in his bag instead of a parachute and I wouldn't have known the difference. I do remember his last words before we started falling: "We go on the count of three, OK? Ready? One!"

And then I was screaming.

And probably cursing.

But I don't remember because I was falling and the ground was so far below but there was so much blue and there's a cloud and where the crap was my two and three?!?!

Twenty seconds of free-fall at 120mph seems like five minutes. All too soon Caylon tapped my shoulder -- the signal to open my arms and fly like a birdy.

I did.

And I felt like a birdy.

He pulled the cord for the 'shoot. We jerked slightly. Two things happen then which Caylon warned me about before hand:

1. I've got wedgie like none I've experienced before. Ever.
2. My boobs now at smashed to me like the world's most uncomfortable Wonderbra. They're around my neck. Literally. Check out the pictures below.

He positions us properly by loosening the straps, tugging here, pulling there. And we were gliding. The extra room in the straps allowed me to hang slightly away from his body so it was more like I was by myself. But not. I can't really describe it. But I didn't care because...

That View.

Ah-mazing.

Truly. That made my jump. To be able to see the north coast of Oahu without a tiny,dirty airplane 

window in the way? Priceless.

It made my heart skip beats.

Or maybe that was the way Caylon was flying... He went in a zig-zaggy pendulum pattern. My stomach was rolling so much. I can get sick off of the Ferris Wheel at a carnival. So this... This was near torture.

We finally find our way back to the Dillingham Airport. We swing wide and come in fast. We land. I'm barely able to stand on my own two feet because of the adrenaline coursing through my body. But I do. We snap some more pictures and make our way back in.

I survived.

And here are the pictures to prove I'm not just full of it.

(From Left to Right: Danny, Lisa, Stephanie)

Caylon and Me

Here we go...

I think he's saying "On Three." But we never got to three, did we, Caylon?!

Free Falling

Still Free Falling

That view, though!

After the Wonderbra was adjusted. My boobs aren't choking me.

How would you like that for your roof over your office?

This is my FB profile picture right now.

I made it! Holy cow...

We were up there! But now we're down here! But we were up there!

Time to walk away... 

Aloha from Oahu!

XXOO
Lisa