Ali3.0

Wahooo!!! I ❤ Florida on Flickr.

Another one for www.jumpbecause.com =)

Feb 18 2012

Fun in the tunnel :)

iFlyin’ 2 (by EmpressAli8)

Feb 8 2012

2/5 on Flickr.

For those that are curious as to Why I’m so ‘Crazy’ to jump from a plane here are my reasons:

1. I had a dream once that I went skydiving. I remember looking down at the patches of land in brilliant greens & light browns… It seemed peaceful, still and perfect. The landing was Gorgeous. That was about 7 years ago…

Reason 2. I wanted to feel like a Badass this year. Check!

Last year, I was fed up with being depressed & on my birthday, decided that I NEEDED to do a tandem jump. I had this wee feeling in my ❤ that I was about to fall in love (which for once, did Not include another human being). And as it so happens, I did! I won’t lie & say that I wasn’t nervous, because I was. It’s only natural- as the brain is sending your body signals to Stay in the plane, not fling yourself out of it. When it comes to fight or flight, apparently I chose ‘Flight’! The feeling of excitement that my life was about to change Forever, prevailed over any jitters that may have otherwise caused a ‘sane’ person to reconsider.

Sitting attached to a man that I didn’t know in the plane, the logical, self-preserving voice pleaded with me “WTF are you doing?! This plane is functioning, you’re presently in one piece, wouldn’t you like to Stay that way?” The other voice, the sassy rebel, silences her up with a resounding “Shush it sissy, oh she-who-cannot-fight-her-way out-of-a-paper-sack & loathes roller coasters!”. I Really prefer the latter one & tend to listen to her most often. Obviously.

That brings us to the edge of the plane. Door is open, it’s extremely loud & I have a 6’2 guy strapped to my back rocking me out into a backflip. Suddenly, it all fell away. Everything that I had been running from, hoping for, crying about, depressed over… Just disappeared. It was replaced with screams of sheer Bliss out of a mouth agape. It was the most cathartic experience; one my soul had been craving. That initial jump meant more to me than anything I’ve done in my life. I used to be terrified to fly & took little pink pills to settle my nerves. Years later, here I am, volunteering to fall out into the great blue sky and quite enthusiastically, I may add. The canopy ride was Fabulous and Spectacular in it’s own right. Two very contrasting experiences, both equally awe-inspiring. Needless to say, when we landed, I was Ecstatic and felt the biggest smile plastered on my face which hadn’t been there… in what seemed like an eternity and stayed for weeks. I can’t remember feeling anything Quite like it. Ever.
As soon as my feet touched the ground, I wanted More! & went up immediately on the next load ;) A month & a half later, I did 3 more tandems in one day. Um Yeah, I’m hooked… I was told, “NO more tandems. Do your AFF already!”

… which lead me to Zhills~

I took the AFF class back on 12/15 with an awesome female instructor . It clouded over that day & we didn’t get to jump :( Things came up & I was going to wait to begin again but then it all changed.

While debating what to do & when, I spent some time playing around in the wind tunnel which helped me tons with my confidence for free fall. I ❤ the tunnel!

Feb. 5th: So I found myself at the drop zone today. Funny thing is, I wasn’t as worked up as I was on that first day of class. A heaping portion of jumping is mental preparation. I’ve been visualizing repeatedly how the free fall & more importantly, my Landing would go. And in the last two months I’ve found myself in a better space to be able to jump ‘solo’. (Two instructors jump with you & hold on to your suit but you Pull your own chute & have to land yourself). I was hoping like hell that the clouds would open up & let me fall thru~ which, thankfully, they did. There was a push inside to just get it done & over with so I could move on~ & feel confident that I could actually do it on my own. I had a Kickass free fall, pulled, waited the 3 seconds, looked up & realized that I had a sparkling orange & white parachute above me. After running thru my checks, I looked out & couldn’t believe that I was finally there, frolicking about like a free bird. I smiled to myself & then screamed out loud something involving a colourful expletive. =)

I landed on my bum, which is S’ok by me considering my goal was to land Alive sans broken bones. Mission accomplished.

I feel like a different woman… from the one I’ve known my entire life. It’s been a dark & twisty road, but today I’m stronger mentally & emotionally from having the Lady BALLS! to jump (& physically thanks to my new favorite place, the Gym). Skydiving not only changed my life, but Saved it as well. Saved me from myself & the dullness of a life left behind…that being said~ I can’t Wait to get back up there again & spread my wings. Yeah, I feel like Wonder Woman :-)

Many thanks to my tandem guys- Scott (pictured below) & Marcus (who said, “enjoy this b/c it’s the Last time you’ll have someone strapped to your back!”)

http://www.skydiveseb.com/