You know the very first thing that came into your head was that song – “I went skydiving/Rocky Mountain climbing/…”
Last Saturday we were up bright and early and out the door to the North Shore. I had a date with the sky and I wasn’t keen on being late.
I go back and forth between being the most zen human and the most anxious – lucky for me, zen was my sweet spot that day.
I kept waiting for my heart to race, my palms to get sweaty, and maybe even to back out. And when it didn’t happen I figured it probably would when I was in the sky, at the door of the plane, no chance of turning back.
But it never happened.
I’ve always thought I’d like to experience skydiving some day. But it wasn’t something I felt strongly enough to put on my bucket list. If it happened, cool. If not, I wasn’t losing sleep over it.
We were driving around the North Shore a few months ago and happened to be watching the skydivers and my interest was piqued again.
“I want to do that,” I told myself. “I want to do that here, where the scenery is gorgeous.”
So I googled and it, and discovered that I know more than one person whose bought shoes for more than what it costs, and it helps that for some reason it’s like the 2nd least expensive place to skydive in the U.S. There wasn’t much reason to not do it. (Other than possibly my trepidation with Heights, but hey!)
The day I had originally intended to do it months ago, roadwork was being done that made the drive there even longer, so I put t off.
Then I realized that time had slipped away from me and I didn’t really have much time left if I wanted to do it on the island. So I booked a slot and made it official.
Have I ever mentioned that I have an amazing husband? When I told him what I was doing there was nothing but “awesome!” and “can we [he and the kids] come cheer you on?” He didn’t try to psych me out or grumble that I was spending money needlessly. He didn’t tell me to chill my 30 year old crisis out. He’s kind of like the greatest human I know.
The kids all waved me on after I was suited up and the guy that I was diving tandem with – Stepan from the Ukraine – walked out the the plane. It was me and several other women also diving solo, and then a few friends who’d come together.
I was to be the last one out of the plane, which I had to laugh about because I’d wanted to be first. No time to think about it.
Turns out I wasn’t even thinking about it anyway. The little plane was loud but oh my gosh. The views.
Oahu is gorgeous as is. I could literally just drive around the island all day and marvel in its beauty. I love a good hike that takes us high and gives us outstanding panoramic views.
But from the sky? Birds eye view?
There isn’t anything quite so breathtakingly gorgeous. I was more than excited and happy to jump out of that plane and free fall headfirst into the majestic beauty of God’s creation.
I’ll be honest though; the free falling bit wasn’t my favorite. I mean, I definitely enjoyed it, but it was so much wind and air in my face that I wasn’t really able to appreciate the moment fully.
Unlike once the chute was pulled.
I understand why people do this. Like more than once. Why they jump out of planes as a regular hobby or for a living.
I can’t say I’d ever want to do it not tandem, but maybe. I could probably work my way up to that desire.
I do know that I definitely want to do it again. Hands down. That will not be my one and only time skydiving.
Sweet M was pretty sad he didn’t get to do it with me (though my biggest cheerleader. As we waited for my turn, with each person that came down, he’d yell, “Do that, Momma! Do that!”) so I told him when he’s 18 we’ll “do that” together. Knowing him, he will remember and hold me to it.
I’ve always been so good about “someday.” So I’m glad I’m being more mindful of the present and doing things “now.” Because who knows otherwise if and when someday would even come.