Aug. 08, 2005

Running late… this long drive is not making the anticipation any better. What am I doing? All this time and I haven’t even thought about it till now. Palms getting a little sweaty and the heart beating a little faster. Things are paid for.. there’s no turning back now. Nothing much else to do than just taking a deep breath and making that plunge.
The phone rings and the others are waiting. I’ll drive a little faster. Still not thinking about it too much. A little excited I guess, but not sure what to expect.
This is just a simple field with a very short runway… How are these planes gonna even take off or land? Another less worry then that at hand. I rush to the hanger to be greeted by half the group on its way already to an old propeller plane painted in army camouflage, and the other half standing, waiting, like little puppies, ready for a morning walk. One hell of a start to the day…
The plane takes of instantly. It’s like watching a seagull at the beach jet up from the ocean breeze. Suit on. Harness tightened. I’m a little giddy. Lets do this. Hurry it up. My group is last so I have to watch the ones ahead scream and shout in utter glory of their jumps. Even more giddy now.
The second flight lands. I scan the area and make simple eye contact with the few around me looking for those momentary assurances from their eyes… and then I’m off. You can really tell that you are one with the sky when your plane is the size of an SUV. The world is so pretty. I take these moments to just enjoy the view… And then the door slides opens and you see how this pretty world looks like without a floor. Strapped in. Inhale. Feet out...
The
world is so pretty…