Skydiving - My Experience

The thought of jumping from a plane had always fascinated me and I had longharboured a dream where one day I would do a tandem sky dive. Never mind that I was terrified of heights. Why then you might ask, would I want to do this? I wish I knew. Part of me liked the idea of the thrill and excitement and part of me, a big part, thought, am I crazy?

The years went by and I hardly ever gave a thought to tandem skydiving except when I happened to see a jump. The idea of skydiving got pushed to the back of my mind as life got busy and being a parent meant my children's needs and wants had top priority.

Not so long ago my husband and I watched a tandem jump on TV. I remarked that I would probably never get round to doing that now and didn't think anymore of it.

You know what I am going to say next!!

My husband decided that I had to do this for once and for all, he was sick of me procrastinating about it and bought me a tandem jump for my birthday, jumping from 14 000 feet with one whole minute of free fall. I was dumbfounded and excited all at once. Part of me couldn't wait to do it and another part was thinking, uh oh, I have to do this now.

Finally the chosen day arrived, I was filled with anticipation, excitement and a small case of the jitters in the hour long drive. My instructor introduced himself and turned out to have quite a sense of humour which put me at ease, somewhat.

The door flung open with a big bang and opened upwards towards the wing. I had to edge just outside the door with my feet hooked under the plane so that I was slightly leaning out. It was really noisy now with the noise of the engine, the wind and my instructor yelling all the reminders for jumping, head back, 'like a banana' For some reason 'like a banana' has stuck in my head. I don't think I did go like a banana, I just sort of tumbled out and next thing we were being buffeted around. My first thought was ... unprintable... but I had decided I was going to enjoy this experience and so I did.

I was reminded of Google Earth and then, when the parachute took over the noise stopped and it was quiet and just so brilliant. It took a few seconds to take it all in.

i just loved it and when I was able to release my vice like grip, I could control the chute turning it this way and that,still with a good degree of caution. As we descended I could see the drop-zone, a big cross painted on the ground. I could also see members of my family as we came closer to land. The landing was absolutely perfect, like stepping from a step onto land, no running along or falling over, just a gentle step. I had thought I might feel a bit shaky but I felt fine, in fact really good. I guess that was the adrenaline. What an experience and a what a leap out of my comfort zone. I had been skydiving and it remains a terrific memory. I don't have a problem with small planes anymore and my fear of heights is all but eliminated.

That is another story.