Sunday, April 18, 2010

Knees in the breeze

Today I headed up to Skydive Snohomish with Smart Guy to make a couple of skydives. Here is a picture of three of the five of my best jump buddies, who went up in the Caravan to play in the sky: Linny, Cindy, and Christine. It was early in the day and it was still a bit brisk, as you can see by the down vest Christine is wearing.

We went up around noon and had a stellar 5-way jump (meaning there were five of us making pretty patterns together in the sky). Smart Guy was a "lurker" meaning that he jumped out with us but just watched us play. We had so much fun that we came down and packed up our gear so we could do it again.
Here you can see the female's gear pile. On the right is Linny's blue and silver rig, in the middle my black, purple and blue-trimmed rig, and on the left, Christine's pretty pink rig trimmed in turquoise. Each one of these "rigs" contains two parachutes: our main and our reserve.

Then we went up to make a second skydive, where we played again in the air, gazing out at Puget Sound and the snow-covered mountains on our way to altitude, before we jumped out to play again in the air, a full minute of freefall before separating and opening our parachutes to glide back down to earth. It was such a lovely day, and now I am home safe and sound. The life I live today, here in the Pacific Northwest, is so magnificent that I am constantly filled with gratitude.
:-)

14 comments:

  1. What a wonderful day you had! I can only imagine the exhilaration!

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  2. I'm glad you had such a thrilling day. :D Are you thinking of ever snapping a few photos on the way down?

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  3. Oh

    My

    Word!

    You are so brave! I bought a new bed today, and I was afraid the mattress was too high *heh*. I have only known one other sky diver in my life, and she only did it once. I would imagine it must be wonderful, though.

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  4. I sometimes wonder if you have a secret death wish.

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  5. As always I'm amazed. I live dangerously through you. A foot or two off the floor is about all I can handle, and then I need something to hold onto.

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  6. When I rode a helicopter over Kauai's cliffs and ocean, people said I had a death wish due to previous crashes. However, I always thought it would never happen to me. Don't we all think we are invincible? Maybe our plane to Hong Kong will crash or explode next month? Who knows?

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  7. Sounds splendid. I wouldn't mind the ride up. It's the one coming down that would cause me to pee my pants. I will settle for reading about your experiences. It must be exhilarating to feel that rush.

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  8. You never cease to amaze me, dear DJ! I wanted to skydive when I was young, but my mother was afraid for me...Now I am a mother, and I am afraid for me...LOL...I'd love to piggyback on your courage! Such fun to read your adventures! You really know how to live! ~Janine XO

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  9. I am so glad this makes you happy and you are able to do what makes you happy...my stomach hurls just at the thought of it. ha

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  10. What a beautiful way to spend the day! I'm wondering why the terminology sounds so sexual. Or is that just me?

    I like Lynn's question. I'd love to see some of these pretty patterns:)

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  11. You're right...you are living an incredible life! Lucky you...

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  12. So glad you enjoy your knees in the breeze, DJan! I will enjoy it vicariously!
    ♥...Wanda

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  13. Your weekend was definitely more exciting than mine! I walked around Lake Nokomis. Ho, Hum...

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  14. What a great way to spend a weekend, it sounds like you had fun. Lynn asked a good question, do you ever take photos on the way down?

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