!!!!!!Skydiving!!!!!

People talk about doing stuff all the time but it's just talk. Not every one's all talk.

SKYDIVING.

I mean, come on. Why would anyone in their right mind consider jumping out of a plane that had absolutely nothing wrong with it, Right?

To be honest, I'd never gave it that much thought. It had never been an option for me nor did i think it ever would be. I live in a world that every thing's possible, but making it happen is where it becomes impossible.

That was until i met CKrause and EHoffman. *

Impossibilities? Not for these two.

So, SKYDIVING aigh...

Out of nowhere CKrause turns to me one day and tells me that skydiving is on the menu of weekend activities. The invitation was extended for me to join the fun and my initial response was, Ya- right! The convincing/persuasion commenced from this point on. The closest thing to a yes that was given from me was a simple 50/50 shot that I'll go.

I commit.

Trying not to think about what I'm about to actually do, we get to the hangar where all the pros are prepping their gear and chutes. The people in that room were amazing to watch. The stories they must have and the things they must have experienced, wow! Tons of questions flooded my brain such as, how did they become skydivers? How long have they been doing this for a career? Where has it taken them? etc...

The previous jumpers videos are playing on the t.v. You can't help but become completely sucked into watching what's shortly to be your reality.

You release Skydive Ogden from any liability and fork over the dough to then get the party started. Get your harness on, you're fitted, adjusted and prepped. Meanwhile, they pair you up with a Jump Master of appropriate size and then your names are on the board.

Then you wait, chatting it up with your comrades to distract each other and fill the time.

The weather clears to perfect jump conditions. Why am I doing this, goes through your mind a zillion times. Why not seems to always be the answer.

It's GO TIME! The planes propellers rev up releasing a steady roar creating great effect. One by one names are called and your friends disappear into the plane. I hear my name and as I raise my hand I look down to find J.M. Carson already adjusting my straps.

Me: "So, you're my life line then?"

Carson: "Are you excited and ready to rock and roll?"

Me: "Sure, but more like terrified."

Carson: "I can tell. You're tense. Loosen up. You've got me. It's going to be great!"

He takes off around the desk, grabs a water and we head out to the plane. We're in the plane. He adjusts my gear a little and tells me to get out. Back out on the ground he tightens me up and back in we go.

I realize that I'll be the third jumper. There's a solo, then KDelis, and CCripps will go, then me. I'm chatting it up with KDelis as the plane climbs up and over the ridge of the mountains etc. while Carson is singing Edelweiss and drinking his water drooling it all over himself.

The door goes up and the air is cold which feels great. Laughing and banter continues as further adjustments are made to the straps. Carson tells me to lean forward and before I know it I'm sitting in his lap and strapped down so tight that I can hardly move a muscle. I'm all geared up and strapped down. He goes over the jump plan one more time: at the door take the catchers stance and cross arms over chest, he'll rock forwards, back, and then out we go.

13,000 feet. It's go time!

I'm out and we're fall/tumbling! Wind screams all around me.
Chin up, arching back, elbows out and feet to my butt.
Carson adjusts my arms and makes us spin to the left then to the right.
It doesn't feel like falling at all. The rush of air feels amazing like the rush of the ocean as a wave rushes over you. The view is an amazing quilt of colors and so far away. The parachutes deploy and yet there's yet another view. You float and how tranquil it is. The harness becomes a chair as you're released, you hold the guide lines. Pull on the left and you turn left and likewise for right. Pull both and you almost stop descending and hover. Hard right, creates a spin, whoa! Look up and check out your friends! Howdy! I hear the song from Snow White, Whistle while you work being sung over my shoulder and can't help but laugh. Birds eye view, what a way to see the world, soaring so high and free, floating and gliding above everything. So lucky, birds. Carson tells me how to land and we practice, feet out in front, and hands to my hips. Looking up again to watch my friends and give a Wahoo! They're all out and floating. KDelis lands. We land and it was smooth and right onto my feet. Every one's down and hugs are exchanged.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Q: Where's your hidden lion? Is he sleeping? Why not wake him up?

You think that you don't have it in you to even. Tell yourself otherwise and see what can happen if you do. It's worth the trip.

*There are only a few people that I've ever come in contact with that have his kind of energy. Crazy kid! To me it's a rarity, the mentality that any thing's possible only exists in the movies.

I've now met two individuals that live and think this way, CKrause being one and EHoffman being the other.

The World is My Playground.