The Wildest Experience of My Life

So my last weekend before be deployed has finally arrived. I cherished to do roughly involvement exciting, extreme nighthing I never would stick out imagined doing before something that would occupy a lot of heart to do. Maybe regular could be called a forgetful crazy as others told me. Skydiving was something I had never by and certainly had never thought of doing until now. After doing some research online, I establish a place only an hour away from al-Qaida in Lumberton, Mississippi. In a way I was hoping there wouldnt be a place local so that could have been my alibi not to do it.Once I started infering slightly actually jumping out of a plane, I started to lower nervous and have assorted feelings. whence I realize it cant be any scarier than what I may encounter overseas maybe it could even help me deal with some things while there. So afterward frequently debating and thought a wide with unsuccessfully trying to convince a few friends to join me, I booked my trip to jump. My trip was booked for Sunday, deuce days away I still had a slight trust that virtuoso of my friends might change his mind, which didnt happen.I al coiffe had mixed feeling about my jump, and I must admit the more(prenominal) I thought about actually doing it, the more nervous I became. I began feeling jittery, and for the outgrowth clipping I was more nervous about skydiving than I was about macrocosm deployed. And still for some cause I wanted to do this, almost felt same(p) I had to. The morning of my jump arrived, and I was instructed to arrive one hour preliminary to my scheduled time. This means I had to be there at 10 a. m. , and that didnt leave me with much time to chicken out. The morning of, I began to do my usual morning routine, which consists of jogging and a simple induce for breakfast.I managed to go jogging, but once I returned home I couldnt even start to drink my shake. So with all the fervidness I decided to call my girlfriend at the time. In some way I was hoping to repel a little motivation and encouragement out of her. When she picked up the phone the first thing she said was, You touch on to jump? Then she laughed at me when I told her I was nervous, which in a way do me feel a little better. Shortly after our phone conversation began I noticed the time and realized I had to start getting ready. I knew if I didnt get showered, dressed, and get out of the house I would never make it on time.It track my mind that running late would be a better footing not to jump than chickening out and just not doing it. Shortly after that crossed my mind, I decided that was not an option. I was going to do this jump no matter what. So I began my hour and 15 minute drive. During the ride my detention and feet started sweating while I was evermore trying to concentrate on other things, but always found myself thinking about jumping out of the plane. Then I started to think about all the bad things that could go wrong. Before I realized it I was reading the sign Gold Coast Skydivers. I was here, no turning back now.So I pulled in looking for for a space to park. I became amazed and couldnt believe how many a(prenominal) the great unwashed were here. The place was so crowded I had to park in the grass. I finally found a spot and put my truck in park, turned off the ignition, and as I stepped out I could inflict hoi polloi who had already jumped. Seeing people landing with at large(p) jump outs just about gave me a certain calmness to my feelings. When I walked into the office there were people in there laughing and discussing how much fun they had during their jump.No one seemed at all nervous or shaken up as I was expecting. After I filled out all the piece of music work and signed all the release forms, I was told to wait for my instructor, so he could go over all the data I call for to chicane. Not long after I was brought into a garage like area with several other first time pinnys they started to go over everything we needed to know. They were constantly reminding us we were jumping at 14,500 feet and would be devoid falling for approximately 10 seconds before they pulled a smaller parachute, which would long-winded us down to 120 mph on the free fall.Then we would continue falling for another 60 seconds before the main parachute was pulled. All of the first timers were constantly reminded to make sure we lis tennered to our instructor who would be jumping with us. I would be jumping bicycle-built-for-two, which is a requirement for first time jumpers. A tandem jump is when you are attached to the bird-scarer of someone, our instructor in this case. They will be the ones responsible for pulling the parachute. To me, this meant I would able to sit back and enjoy the ride without worry.Before I was knew it I was being dressed in a blue jumpsuit and stepping into my harness. I was and so introduced to my instructor, handed a p crinkle of goggle and told t o intellect towards to the plane. I was walking downhill looking towards the plane and for the first time actually becoming excited about what I was about to experience. My tandem instructor boarded the plane first, and I went right behind him. The plane was peg down with two long benches allowing us to line up with our instructors. When I got put I started to look at the others who were boarding the plane.My instructor asked me, Do you know what it means to be the last one on the plane? My reaction was simple and a fast No He hence laughed and responded, Youll be the first one out I found that amusing because I did know that I was the first one on, which means I would be the last one out. Once we got seated my instructor started strapping me in and started going over what I needed to do during the jump. He told me to make unnecessary my legs tucked under him, keep my head to the left, and keep my hands on my harness until I was told otherwise.He then told me that after abo ut ten seconds he would tap me twice on my shoulder. This meant I could release my hands from the harness. He proceeded to tell me when and how he would start doing spins and others stunts. I was told to give a thumbs up if I wanted more or to close my fist if I wanted to stop. It seemed like no time had passed by, and we were in air on our way. My instructor had a band on his wrist that showed him how many feet we were at. Before I realized it we were at 13,000 feet and everyone was told to put on their goggles and get ready.This is when I began asking myself what in the hell did I get myself into? Soon as I could blink my eyes the first jumper was out the plane, then the next, and the next Now I was being scooted frontwards down the aisle. Once I arrived at the end of the bench I was instructed to crawl to the edge of the door. This means I was looking out of an open door into the blue skies. I had no time to think as we leaned forward, backwards, and then out we went. As soon a s it started I wasnt nervous anymore I was enjoying the feeling of free falling through the sky with nothing but the air underneath me.Before long I felt the two taps that I had been waiting for, and I released my arms from the harness. Now we were spinning freely in the air and I loved every second of it. I never closed my fist. From what I can remember I believe I kept both(prenominal) thumbs up the entire time. Before I knew it the parachute had been pulled, and I was being jerked upward. This is when I heard my instructor say, We got ourselves a parachute I was then told to position my harness lower on my thighs, so I could be in a sitting position. This turned out to be more comfortable to me.As we were gliding downward towards the landing zone, I began looking around and realized that this was one of the most peaceful experiences of my life. My instructor made it feel natural as he effortlessly guided us right towards the landing circle with ease. As we were getting close I could see the others who had already landed and were watching me as we started our decent. Next thing I heard was feet up and we were landing gently on the ground. For some reason I expected the landing to be more challenging and rough, but it wasnt. I was now safe and on the ground being unhooked from my instructor.At this time I could say that I had jumped out of a plane and enjoyed every second of it. Back in the office I changed out my suit and talked to the other first time jumpers for a little while. I then took the opportunity to take pictures with my instructor and get the information I needed to learn how to skydive on my own. I then said my goodbyes and headed home. I was proud of myself for what had just got accomplished and the fear I had overcome. This was truly a mind blowing, breath taking, stomach turning, and nerve pace experience. As soon as it was over a part of me was ready to jump again.