It started out innocent enough, a discussion of "Bucket Lists" over Christmas Eve dinner. Sam, Chelsea, Zachary and me, all had something in common.... skydiving.
The next thing you know, someone has the great idea that we should all jump together. Then we started looking at dates and before you knew it, we had all agreed to skydive together during the Summer of 2011. YIKES!
Truth be told, I think one of us certainly thought we would come to our senses and find the reason that this couldn't happen.... it never did.
Before you knew it Zachary had made the reservations, Chelsea had taken off work, I had planned a trip to Georgia accompanied by Aunt Beck and we were at the point of no return.
Zack had kept the heat on through the winter and spring, this would be a Rumsey family outing that none of us would ever forget. We encouraged each other and by the time Aunt Beck and I arrived in Clayton we were all psyched for the big jump.
Now Aunt Beck had no intention of jumping, but she also had no intention of missing out on our jump. We arrived on Wednesday and scheduled the jump for Friday, July 22nd.
The focus of Thursday was to convince daddy and Donna to go with us for the jump. Both of them had been clear, they had no desire to join us, had no desire to see us jump and thought we were all stupid for considering the jump.
Aunt Beck on the other hand made it clear, she couldn't wait to see us jump and if she were 20 years younger she would be jumping with us.
Friday morning arrived, bright and early Sam, Chelsea and Zack picked us up for the drive to our jump site. Nervous energy was obvious, chit chat and excitement filled the car.
The drive to our jump site was almost 3 hours, we would be stuck in the car for 3 hours taunting each other along the way.
The closer we got to the jump site, the quieter Zack and I got. We are the most "talkative" of the family and our nerves manifested through our silence. You would have never known if Sam and Chelsea were nervous as they continued with their enthusiastic banter.
Finally, our car filled with thrill seekers ventured off the main road and into a pasture. A pasture with a small landing strip, wind sock and metal building. Gravel driveway, rolling hills and the gentle hum of a single engine airplane completed the scene.
Once we checked in we began the process of signing our life away. Basically the documents we signed said we could not hold our hosts responsible for a hang-nail, much less a 10,000 ft fall to our demise!
We watched with excitement the videos of other jumpers and sized up the other jumpers in our vicinity. Hey that guy over there is at least 70, if he can do it I can do it...right!?!?!?
Two things made me the most nervous and both of them had to do with Sam. First, my weight. The website stated loud and clear that if you were over a certain weight you had to pay more to jump. I knew if I hit that weight limit, my loving brother would never let me forget it.
The second thing that had me nervous was the weather. The website also said that if the weather were clear and pretty you could extend your jump, from 10,000 feet to 14,500 feet. I knew Sam would go for the higher limit if possible.
We step up the counter, Sam first, he weighs and I will not say what happened. Then the rep told him that the weather was beautiful and that was all it took for Sam.... here was the extra $10 to get him up to 14,500.
I stepped up on the scale and held my breath, hallelujah blessed Mary and Joseph, I was under the weight limit! (Seriously, I don't know how and I know I wouldn't do it today, so don't judge!) I think I was so excited about making the weight that I didn't even argue about the extra 4500 feet.
Now it was time to meet the person who would be strapped to my back with my life in their hands. I had a nice guy, mid-20s who had jumped numerous times in the past. He was no-nonsense and wasn't really interested in hearing the fears of a fat dude that is old enough to be his dad.
Chelsea, who had flirted with all the instructors, and enjoyed their flirting in return got Woody for her instructor. Woody was a super nice guy, about my age who appeared to have enjoyed the 70's A LOT!
Flights were called and Zack and Sam were on the first flight, Chelsea and I on the second. Nervously waiting for our turn to take to the skies, Chelsea and I enjoyed watching Sam and Zack float to the ground.
Now it was time, we loaded into the plane and prepared for our jump. The instructors had given us our instructions, the videographer was filming the trip and it was now or never.
We climbed to our jump level and my instructor moved me to the door. I was standing in the door of an airplane looking out over 2 miles off the ground and suddenly, every nervous moment I had disappeared, I was ready.
Seconds later, I was falling through the sky at 120 mph and loving every second of it! We did flips and I have never felt as free in my life.
After just 75 seconds the free fall was over, my instructor motioned me that we were going up and within seconds we were jerked up into the heavens and now we floated.... floated through the clouds and skies.
As we floated I could see the beautiful Georgia landscape and then I could see Chelsea floating through the skies as well.
As quickly as it all began, I could now see our landing spot, I could see Sam and Zack and Aunt Beck all cheering us down.
That day I felt alive, it was amazing to face this incredible fear and conquer it. Sometimes you need to do something that may not be your smartest move in life, but it's just needed... for me skydiving was just that.
I now look at other items on my bucket list and see them as things I WILL do instead of things I would like to do.... big difference.
Friends ask me, would you do it again? The answer is yes, I would do it again, but I don't HAVE to do it again.
I'm so happy I did it and even more happy that I did it with my family.... it was a jump I will never forget!
The next thing you know, someone has the great idea that we should all jump together. Then we started looking at dates and before you knew it, we had all agreed to skydive together during the Summer of 2011. YIKES!
Truth be told, I think one of us certainly thought we would come to our senses and find the reason that this couldn't happen.... it never did.
Before you knew it Zachary had made the reservations, Chelsea had taken off work, I had planned a trip to Georgia accompanied by Aunt Beck and we were at the point of no return.
Zack had kept the heat on through the winter and spring, this would be a Rumsey family outing that none of us would ever forget. We encouraged each other and by the time Aunt Beck and I arrived in Clayton we were all psyched for the big jump.
Now Aunt Beck had no intention of jumping, but she also had no intention of missing out on our jump. We arrived on Wednesday and scheduled the jump for Friday, July 22nd.
The focus of Thursday was to convince daddy and Donna to go with us for the jump. Both of them had been clear, they had no desire to join us, had no desire to see us jump and thought we were all stupid for considering the jump.
Aunt Beck on the other hand made it clear, she couldn't wait to see us jump and if she were 20 years younger she would be jumping with us.
Friday morning arrived, bright and early Sam, Chelsea and Zack picked us up for the drive to our jump site. Nervous energy was obvious, chit chat and excitement filled the car.
The drive to our jump site was almost 3 hours, we would be stuck in the car for 3 hours taunting each other along the way.
The closer we got to the jump site, the quieter Zack and I got. We are the most "talkative" of the family and our nerves manifested through our silence. You would have never known if Sam and Chelsea were nervous as they continued with their enthusiastic banter.
Finally, our car filled with thrill seekers ventured off the main road and into a pasture. A pasture with a small landing strip, wind sock and metal building. Gravel driveway, rolling hills and the gentle hum of a single engine airplane completed the scene.
Once we checked in we began the process of signing our life away. Basically the documents we signed said we could not hold our hosts responsible for a hang-nail, much less a 10,000 ft fall to our demise!
We watched with excitement the videos of other jumpers and sized up the other jumpers in our vicinity. Hey that guy over there is at least 70, if he can do it I can do it...right!?!?!?
Two things made me the most nervous and both of them had to do with Sam. First, my weight. The website stated loud and clear that if you were over a certain weight you had to pay more to jump. I knew if I hit that weight limit, my loving brother would never let me forget it.
The second thing that had me nervous was the weather. The website also said that if the weather were clear and pretty you could extend your jump, from 10,000 feet to 14,500 feet. I knew Sam would go for the higher limit if possible.
We step up the counter, Sam first, he weighs and I will not say what happened. Then the rep told him that the weather was beautiful and that was all it took for Sam.... here was the extra $10 to get him up to 14,500.
I stepped up on the scale and held my breath, hallelujah blessed Mary and Joseph, I was under the weight limit! (Seriously, I don't know how and I know I wouldn't do it today, so don't judge!) I think I was so excited about making the weight that I didn't even argue about the extra 4500 feet.
Now it was time to meet the person who would be strapped to my back with my life in their hands. I had a nice guy, mid-20s who had jumped numerous times in the past. He was no-nonsense and wasn't really interested in hearing the fears of a fat dude that is old enough to be his dad.
Chelsea, who had flirted with all the instructors, and enjoyed their flirting in return got Woody for her instructor. Woody was a super nice guy, about my age who appeared to have enjoyed the 70's A LOT!
Flights were called and Zack and Sam were on the first flight, Chelsea and I on the second. Nervously waiting for our turn to take to the skies, Chelsea and I enjoyed watching Sam and Zack float to the ground.
Now it was time, we loaded into the plane and prepared for our jump. The instructors had given us our instructions, the videographer was filming the trip and it was now or never.
We climbed to our jump level and my instructor moved me to the door. I was standing in the door of an airplane looking out over 2 miles off the ground and suddenly, every nervous moment I had disappeared, I was ready.
Seconds later, I was falling through the sky at 120 mph and loving every second of it! We did flips and I have never felt as free in my life.
After just 75 seconds the free fall was over, my instructor motioned me that we were going up and within seconds we were jerked up into the heavens and now we floated.... floated through the clouds and skies.
As we floated I could see the beautiful Georgia landscape and then I could see Chelsea floating through the skies as well.
As quickly as it all began, I could now see our landing spot, I could see Sam and Zack and Aunt Beck all cheering us down.
That day I felt alive, it was amazing to face this incredible fear and conquer it. Sometimes you need to do something that may not be your smartest move in life, but it's just needed... for me skydiving was just that.
I now look at other items on my bucket list and see them as things I WILL do instead of things I would like to do.... big difference.
Friends ask me, would you do it again? The answer is yes, I would do it again, but I don't HAVE to do it again.
I'm so happy I did it and even more happy that I did it with my family.... it was a jump I will never forget!
I still don't understand why any person would jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Having a Private Pilot License, the only time you will see me with a 'chute on my back would be the only way down.
ReplyDeleteGlad you all had fun and did it safely!
Kendall, You are one fantastic writer - what a God given talent you have, along with your awesome singing voice!!! We really miss You in choir - you added so much with both your voice and your personality!!!
ReplyDeleteMany Blessings,
Linda Carpenter