I can fly

All my close friends know what a thrill seeker I am. There is no roller coaster fast enough or any free fall high enough (I ain't never scared) so when my little cousin Derek started skydiving last year, I just knew I would have to join him one day. We've been trying since the season started but with my work schedule and weather conditions we weren't able to go until today!

I met up with him at his house in Elmont and we made our way to Suffolk county. All the way there I was waiting for my nerves to kick in and they never did. I thought maybe once I saw the plane but still nothing. I thought for sure when I got in my harness, ummm no I was wrong. Once up in the air my instructor started going over the instructions again and then my mind began to race... suppose I forgot what to do, suppose the parachute didn't open. I didn't get to think that much because next thing I know, my cousin who no longer jumps tandem (he's serious about this skydiving thing) saw the green light and was out. Then right after him two other student jumpers leaped out then it was my turn!!

Oh no! Well those nerves you know I was waiting on well they suddenly appeared. While I was at the door of the plane and my instructor was rocking me back and forth, saying "Ready" I thought what the hell am I doing? "Set" I wondered if it was too late to change my mind... "Go" I couldn't even complete my thought because I was now soaring 13,500 feet in the air (with obscenities flying out of my mouth) and it was the most exhilarating experience of my life! I felt so free, so alive, and unexpectedly, very happy. It was like nothing else mattered and I was at peace...even if it was only for a moment. I was able to take in my entire surroundings and enjoy the beautiful work of my Creator. I'm a control freak that needs to be in charge most times but it was kind of nice being helpless and relinquishing that power to someone else for a change.

I'm so happy I got to skydive today, not only because it gave me a chance to bond with my cousin over something he's so passionate about but I'm also now reassured that I have what it takes to do anything I want. If I can jump out of a perfectly good airplane (as my older brother said) what is there that I can't or won't do.

Before take off