Hawaii, Part IX: Skydiving

The highlight of the trip! For years I had been stressing over it: Could I do it? Should I do it? I can do it. No I can't. Yes, I can. Maybe. We'll see. I don't know. Dad, just lock me into it. Mom, stop saying that I can back out now, it's making me nervous. 

This struggle went on for months.

I would watch skydiving videos on Youtube for months, trying to imagine my experience falling towards the ground at 130mph. Every time I did my palms got sweaty. My stomach would toss around like a stadium beach ball at a Dodgers game. But I was determined to do it, by golly! I've turned a new leaf recently and decided to not be so scared about things and take chances, experience new things. 

Of course, my Mom thought we were all insane. 

Maybe she's right. Because it was insane. Insanely awesome!

The morning of Skydive Hawaii day, we got up, got dressed, and I barely ate a thing. I did not want my breakfast falling at 130 mph beside me. Everyone--Dad, Scott, Spencer, Brittany and I--were all super excited but a little tense. Reality was setting in. The day had arrived. We had to act on all of our "I'm going to go skydiving!" talk and hype. 

We drove towards North Shore on Oahu listening to music and trying to pump ourselves up. Two songs will forever be associated with skydiving: Dynamite by Taio Cruz and Gettin Over You by David Guetta. They got me through the drive. Made me feel cool. Pumped me up. Got my wiggles out. 

At one point we were all head-banging because we needed to release our nerves somehow. 

We arrive.

We sign our death certificates.

We are on the list.

I am lucky #1 in the family. 

If I die, then the rest of the family knows it's not a good idea.
Apparently, it's a sacrifice they're willing to make. ;)

Thank you for your prayers dear sister. I promise not to haunt you if I die.

We wait, and wait and wait. Watch someone's first/primary parachute cut away as it tumbles violently to the trees. Freak out. Get a grip. Wait, wait, wait. 

My turn.

My tandem gave me the instructions--which weren't many--and got me into my equipment. It was thrilling. He was nice, but tough. Pretty hard-core, no-nonsense, rough talker. I had him repeat the instructions to me over and over because he'd say them so fast and I kept feeling like something this dangerous needed to be explained more fully. But nope. He pretty much hollered instructions as we went. 

When it was our turn, my tandem and I walked to the truck and hopped in the truck bed. We were dropped off at the tiny airplane that would hold only me, my tandem, the photographer, and the pilot. It was that tiny. We were scrunched together. As the plane lifted into the air I tried to keep the panic down. My heart races just thinking about it. I wish I could add the video but I don't know how. Words will have to suffice.

It was too loud to talk. I looked out the window as we climbed higher and higher into the sky. Pretty soon all I could see were white, fluffy clouds all around us. It was pretty surreal knowing that I would be diving into them. When Slava, the photographer, would film me in the plane, all I could give was a simple nervous smile and a shrug. 

My tandem then got us hooked up together. We had to dance and shimmy and move around a bit in that confined space until I was sitting on his lap and he hooked me in. I was very grateful that he pulled hard on those clamps, belts, safetys and harnesses. I did not want to slip out. 

Suddenly, it was time. The door was opened. Which was terrifying for a split second. Slava got out and hung onto the wing to let me and my tandem go out first. My foot got caught trying to swing it out onto the ledge. Embarrassing and caught on tape. All I could see was clouds. Surprisingly, I really didn't feel scared. It just felt...surreal. That's the only word I can think of to describe it. It was like a dream. Like I wasn't really doing it. I leaned my head back like I had been told, crossed my arms, and suddenly I was falling.

My eyes rolled back in my head. I lost my stomach for a moment. I felt like I was tumbling but weightless.

My tandem tapped me to put my arms out....and there I was...SKYDIVING!

 I was smiling like an idiot but I couldn't help it, it was sooo awesome. I felt like my whole body was smiling. Alive. Full of adrenaline. The wind ripped all around us and I got a little soaked falling through a rain cloud. The cloud tingled my skin and was definitely cold. It sounded like bacon sizzling as we passed through it. Slava was in front of me most of the way filming and smiling and shaka-signing. 

It was over so fast, but felt like an eternity at the same time. It was simply unbelievable and I am sooo glad that I did it. A once in a lifetime experience. Who knows? Maybe a twice in a lifetime experience? But I'm not sure I want to push my luck.

When the parachute was pulled, my tandem and floated quickly down to the landing field. And it hurt. So bad. The harness dug into my legs. My tandem had us twisting and turning and I could barely keep back groans of pain. But the views were amazing. The ocean, fields, mountains, all was gorgeous. We came in hot on the landing, but my tandem was a pro and it was very smooth as we landed on our feet. 

I immediately felt drained. It was the biggest rush of my life. So invigorating and exhausting. My family was happy to see I was alive and greeted me with big smiles and hugs and peppered me with questions. I was so cool. Now it was their turn to follow in my awesome footsteps!

 Brittany did it!!

Dad was last to go. Brave and stoic as always.

 Spencer did it! He got his skydiving certificate!

 We are so awesome! Cooler than anyone we know :)

Scott and Dad did it!!

 Scott was lucky enough to get both a video and a cd full of pictures by accident. 

So here is what it looked like for Scott!

We are so grateful to my parents for giving us this wonderful experience! 

It was just AWESOME!