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| say your prayers! |
Every once in a while we experience that surreal moment when a dream becomes reality.
Skydiving was one of those moments.
I've wanted to go ever since I was a kid growing up on military bases where we'd watch the paratroopers train.
Fast forward a few decades. One of the deadliest natural disasters in history. Haiti. A team of strangers risking their lives to save others.
They're the kind of fearless souls who pull people from burning buildings. climb Mt. Everest. fight wars for our freedom. attempt feats most of us wouldn't dare.
At first I felt out of place. They save lives; they know what to do with bloody wounds and cracked skulls. Me? I know what to do with a camera and a pen.
But somehow we fit.
And that's how skydiving came up. We got the idea to jump as a way to raise funds for an orphanage. Our Heights for Haiti jump fell through but two of us decided to go anyway.
And that's how skydiving came up. We got the idea to jump as a way to raise funds for an orphanage. Our Heights for Haiti jump fell through but two of us decided to go anyway.
Ironically, we were assigned to the same plane for our tandem jumps as a team of training soldiers. As the plane climbed, they'd suddenly vanish out the open door, sometimes mid-sentence. I thought my heart would fail each time.
When my turn came, I looked into heaven and began...screaming. "Oh! My! God!"
Freefalling at 120 mph (experts say it's like floating, not a rollercoaster drop; I felt both) all I could do was pray. And scream.
When we finally landed an eternity later (ok, about five minutes), the Skydive Arizona crew made me feel like a hero just for strapping on the harness.
But the real heroes are the Haiti team and those who risk their lives for others - you are the courageous ones.
YouTube link of my jump! My favorite part is 2:24 when Chad jumps - and I realize I'm next. "Chaaaad! Oh my God!!"
Freefalling at 120 mph (experts say it's like floating, not a rollercoaster drop; I felt both) all I could do was pray. And scream.
When we finally landed an eternity later (ok, about five minutes), the Skydive Arizona crew made me feel like a hero just for strapping on the harness.
But the real heroes are the Haiti team and those who risk their lives for others - you are the courageous ones.
YouTube link of my jump! My favorite part is 2:24 when Chad jumps - and I realize I'm next. "Chaaaad! Oh my God!!"
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