I
was planning on going to Eloy to film and photograph Josh, Amy, Bekah, and
Willis skydive. I had no idea I would
end up jumping out of that plane as well!
Peer Pressure is the only way I can figure I suddenly went from being a
bystander to participant that day. I
found myself in a small room watching a video of everything that could go wrong
and signed a stack of waivers so large I actually felt bad for the tree.
The
shuttled us over to put on our harnesses and the next things I knew, a man
named Dean was introducing himself to me to go over proper jump procedure.
“Are
you afraid?” Dean asked politely, though
I’m sure he could tell I was whiter than I ever have been in my life
before! “Don’t worry…me too,” He said trying to ease the mood.
The
steps between the golf cart and small propeller plane seemed enormous. I stepped up the ladder and as we made our
way inside, Dean strapped us together in preparation for the jump at 13,000
feet.
“So
when we get ready to go, I will count to 3, and then we jump.” Dean
explained. ‘What in the world am I doing?!? I paid to do this. I’m not backing out. What if I die? I didn’t even tell my parents what I am doing
today. Lord, is this is my time,
whatever. Ok. I’m going to jump. Ah!’
The
door slid open and whatever confidence I had mustered up flew out, it was
probably somewhere over Phoenix by now.
We walked up to the door. Oh my, ohmyohmyohmyohmy.
“Are
you ready?” Dean asked, but didn’t
really give time for a reply. “Ok,
one…two…” With a push we were tumbling
out of the plane! What happened to three?!? Ok Dean, trust gone…but wait, this is kind of
cool! This is amazing! I can see for miles and the
heart-lodged-in-your-throat-making-you-want-to-throw-up feeling was nowhere to
be found! I waved to the cameraman and
gave a ‘hi mom’ shout-out.
Contrary
to the movies, you can’t talk, so Dean signaled by waving his hand it was time
to launch the chute out. I prepared for
the jerk…but nothing happened. I looked
up to see out chute in a clump above us.
We had slowed down some, but the ground was rapidly approaching!
“Oh
fudge.” Dean said. What?!? Ok God, is this really
how you are going to take me?!? That’s
it. I’m dead. Alicia dies in skydiving incident. Trust really gone now Dean..really!
“Ok,
don’t panic,” yeah right. I need to unhook
you to pull the reserve chute on my chest.
Hold on here and here. He moved
my hands to the straps attached to the first chute. Before I could protest or ask what was going
on, my harness was loose. My hands were
clinging to the strap and all I could think was I was going to separate from
him and die. Whoosh. The reserve chute
came out and Dean quickly tightened my harness to his again.
“Well,
that was interesting!” Dean said. What,
interesting?!? Terrifying! “Wanna do some tricks now?” I didn’t want to do some
tricks. I wanted ground and I wanted it
5 minutes ago!
When
things don’t go your way, who do you look to?
Do
you really believe God can rescue you from whatever situation you are in?
