For those interested in our skydiving experience…

Saturday was a gorgeous day in the Northwest – and a perfect day for Dave to redeem his birthday gift from last year: a tandem skydive. After Dave did his 9-mile run and I finished my bike ride, we all jumped into the VW bus and headed to Molalla, where Skydive Oregon is located. Upon arrival, Dave checked in and it became a waiting game – waiting for training, then waiting for your jump. As I sat there, in the warm sun, listening to my music, the kids playing in the nearby field, and watching skydivers come down a dozen at a time – there was a part of me that wanted to do it. I chose not to vocalize this thought – because Dave would pounce on it, but it turns out I didn’t have to. He knew I wanted to do it – and I didn’t put up much resistance, so he got me signed up.

Meanwhile, K&B arrived with Kim, Anne & crew. Really nice of them to come out and watch – it made the whole day more enjoyable. We were soon called in for ‘training’. I was ready to sit there and absorb helpful, potentially life-saving information for the next 30 minutes – but instead we got what looked like a demonstration of Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes from a guy with a red goatee. They spend more time showing you how to buckle your seatbelt on an airplane than this guy spent on training us to jump out of a moving aircraft at 13,000 feet. Whatever. Bring it on.

Time to suit up. I can’t remember the name of Dave’s jump partner – Jeff, maybe. I had Sean, who just came off 2 months in Cabo as a skydive instructor. Both super nice guys. We signed up for the video, so they each had a camera attached to their wrists to document the whole ordeal. They helped us get our jumpsuits on, then step into our packs, and off we went out to the airstrip.

The plane landed, turned around, and we loaded up. Tandem jumpers got in first, so the professionals can jump out first. The plane is gutted - with two long benches running lengthwise inside. We packed in like sardines, straddling the benches – I was eating the backpack of the guy in front of me, and getting intimately acquainted with Sean behind me. We took off, and then it hit me, “I have to jump out of this plane to get back on that ground. What have I done?” But it only lasted a moment – I was nervous, but truly excited and really not at all concerned about safety. Maybe I felt so safe because I had just watched dozens of jumpers land safely on the ground – or maybe it was Sean, reaching around me like a mother hen, tightening straps and securing hooks – over and over again. Eventually, I just put my hands up in the air, and gave him free reign.

It took about 15 minutes to reach 13,000 feet. All the while, the guys are asking us questions for the sake of the DVD they are making – and telling us to give a thumbs up or a cheesy smile for the camera. I’m hoping they’ll edit it so I don’t look like the idiot I felt like. Then, the door opens. Holy crap. A burst of cold air, and a deafening roar – and people just start jumping out the plane. No hesitation. No wavering. Just falling out of the plane. Somehow, it was decided that I would be the first of the tandem jumpers. Sean, now strapped snugly to me, starts pushing us down the bench toward this open door. He asks one last time, “Are you ready to skydive, Adina?” This is it. My last chance to back out. Fortunately, I am too much of a coward to be a coward and I give him a resounding, “Yes!” Out we go.

Unbelievable feeling. Dave’s experience was a little different than mine, but I never really felt like I was falling – though I undoubtedly was in a free fall for about 45 seconds. You are travelling so fast, about 120 miles per hour, and the wind is so fierce, it just felt like I was floating. It was amazing. Sean pulled the cord, chute went up – not nearly as jerky as I thought it would be – and we were flying. It was so peaceful – we could talk just like we were sitting across from each other. No shouting. The view was breathtaking – I could see Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Ranier, Mt. Hood, and Mt. McKinley. I could also see Dave floating around beneath me. Sean pointed him out to me, and said, “Hey – there’s your boyfriend!” Cute. He let me do the controls for a bit and he did a few tricks – but I really just liked floating there and looking around. I knew it would be over too soon. And it was. Before I knew it, the ground was getting close and we were swooping in for a landing. A smooth one, too. It took me a while to get over the adrenaline rush – I was so shaky and my stomach was rolling. But it was an unforgettable experience – one I highly recommend.

It was a good way to start off March – feeling so alive – and a little reckless. February was not a great month – and I’m glad it’s over. Too many hours at work, too many changes in our schedules, a lot of stress & anxiety – just an emotional roller coaster. Fortunately, my work schedule has lightened up and things are getting back to ‘normal’, whatever that may be. The kids have Friday off, so I think Anne & family will come hang out with us.

Dave and I are also training for a half on April 10^th – same one we did last year – then I will do the Hippie Chick Half with the other ladies in the family. Then our Ragnar Relay in July. I’m loving the running – I love the time to myself, my music and my thoughts.

This is way too long.

Adina