The adventures of Saraka

Long ago I went on an adventure with a friend and moved to Colorado. Being a single young woman of 20 I was eager to do adventurous things. My friend had started skydiving and

insisted I come along one day. The jump instructor WAS cute..and single also. I spent much of the day trying to fall correctly (I can't even WALK correctly) and once I was sufficiently exhausted, we suited up and climbed into a Cessna of some sort. We reached the proper altitude...1000 feet? 1500? I don't recall. I was first to go...the pilot cut the engine and said "Go." I put my foot out on the strut...the wind was stronger than I had imagined. I paused. The pilot yelled..."GO!" I swung out, eyes closed, wondering what the hell have I done this time! I let go and arched my back as instructed and in only moments I felt the yank of my chute opening. I looked up and saw the most beautiful orange and white canopy above me. The silence was deafening. There wasn't enough time to fully appreciate all that was going on with my senses...no sound..the feeling of the air flowing by..the vision of the jump zone...my mind racing. Too soon it was time to land..."Look at the horizon. DON'T look down. Bend your knees." All going through my mind. I looked down. My feet went up toward the horizon taking my bent knees with them. I landed on my ass. Someone said..."Are you ok?" I nodded because I could not speak I was so in awe of the experience.

We went for beers. Tradition was if you made your first jump you bought the first pitcher. We celebrated..

I went back one other time but the wind was too brisk. I dated the jump instructor very briefly. But life is busy when you are 20 and single. I moved on to Rodeos and cowboys, I believe, before I moved back to Arkansas.

I am officially a one jump commando. It was fun but I didn't become addicted. Nice to revisit the memory though!

Saraka

Comment from Accel:

Great story Saraka, life is for living and you do it so well!