The Rush of a lifetime!

Some of you may have a bucket list.  If you don't, it's time to draft one.  I've done some crazy stuff in my short lifetime...parasailing, scuba diving, yes, even riding a pick up truck like a bull.  But never did I think I would jump out of a perfectly good plane!  Well two weeks ago, I did and I'm ready to do it again!  Mom, Lauren (sister-in-law) and Seth (baby brother) all headed to Skydive Kentucky in Elizabethtown.  Everyone was pumped but as the time neared I started getting a little freaked.  We started out by signing our lives away.  Literally you had to sign saying you know you could die from it.  Then a short training, going over all the steps and then a really long wait as we waited for a plane to be available.  We decided to have photos and videos taken so that meant most of us had to go on our own or with strangers.  As time went by I felt fine.  Then it was my turn....and they took Seth.  The day was an emotional rollercoaster.  By the time I actually got suited up I had been up and down three different times and was honestly just exhausted!  They got me in the harness.  My instructor suited up with what we hoped was a good parachute.  There were seven people shoved in this tiny little plane that didn't have a door...yes, it was completely open one side.  I'm terribly scared of planes as they are taking off.  Once they level off I'm fine.  You'll find me even on a commercial flight focusing on my breathing and bury myself in a book.  So at this time I had my head buried in my knees and breathing like I was in labor.  Had to have been a great laugh for the instructors.  Once we leveled off I was fine and was able to look out off the beautiful scenery of Kentucky.  I knew there was a reason I love this state.  We continue to climb in altitude, making it to 7,500 ft.  Then one of the folks starts moving around and resituating.  They had told me he was a student and was going to dive on his own.  That was all fine and dandy until they said GO! and the kid jumped from the plane and it sounded like he was being sucked down a massive toilet bowl.  Then I started to REALLY freak out.  The instructor got me calmed down and started to hook us up.  Yes, I put my life in the hands of a perfect stranger. =)  When we started to reach 10,000ft Larry (my instructor) had me move to the edge of that open door.  The photographer at this point is literally hanging off the side of the plane, kinda like Spiderman.  As Larry is sitting on the edge of the plane, I'm (yep you guessed it) hanging off of him and over the side of the plane.  Arching my legs back under the plane and crossing my arms across my body (at this point I didn't know whether to scream or puke).  At this point I don't remember what happened! LOL  But he pushed both of us out and we freefalling into the air.  My eyes were closed, apparently we flipped and then I remembered OH YEAH, I have to look at the photographer (who had then jumped as well).  We are freefalling at 170MPH for nearly 15seconds.  Larry send up a tiny parachute that slows us down to 150MPH.  As we near 5,500ft Larry points for me to watch my altimeter (the wristwatch that tells you how many feet you are above the ground).  I reach back to grab the ripcord.  500Ft later I pull the cord all by myself and we shoot back and up into the air.  I must say this produced the funniest picture!  Success!!!  He picked a good pack. :)  Then as we are both acting as if we're birds, flying at 5,000ft above the ground we glide back towards the DZ (dropzone).  The next task was the landing.  While we have slowed down quite a bit we were still getting some air.  We near the ground, I lift up my legs and Larry hits the ground with his legs and brings us almost to a stop.  Somehow when I put my legs down to stand up we end up rolling over the top of each other and totally tangling the parachutes.  I don't think they like to do that. =(  While I was completely pertrifide by the time we got up there and it was time to seal the deal, it was an experience of a timetime.  So for those of you that have any desire, DO IT!  Think you can't because you hate planes, are afraid of heights, don't want to trust anyone else, DO IT!  I can prove anyone wrong on each of those details.  Now that I know what it takes and what happens I'm ready to go again.  It is totally INSANE! 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2378308&id=20702564&l=8c7fefe296-  Link to photos on Facebook