bLogbook

• Jumper: Nancy J
• Jump #: 1 = FIRST OF MANY!!
• Date: June 26, 2010
• Altitude: 14000 ft
• Hometown: Hamilton, On.
• In Her Words: See Below

I have to use my own words to describe this experience? That’s impossible.

You have to do it to know the feeling.

 My motto for life has been “If you’re not living life on the edge, you’re taking up too much space!”, and I am now taking up very, very little space in this world!!!!  And the “edge” has now moved to a different level and position as well….

 The week before the scheduled jump, I have to admit I was nervous especially since all my wimpy friends that were not coming with me kept asking me “What are you doing?” with looks of shock on their faces.  Good, that’s exactly the reaction I was looking for….LOL

Jump Day, up early, not like I could sleep anyways…way too excited!!  The weather didn’t really cooperate with our group but we all hung in there waiting for it to clear and it was well worth the wait.  Thank you Mother Nature!!

The instructors were thorough, and had just the right amount of humour to take any last minute jitters away.  My personal tandem instructor was awesome…confident, enthusiastic X 10, and full of smiles and laughs.  His sarcasm was appreciated and understood it all (there is really nothing worse than wasted sarcasm!!)  That’s just what I needed.  Do any skydivers have a bad day really?  I don’t think so….  Thanks PeeDee, you ROCK!!!

Watching that first diver leave the plane was when my adrenaline kicked in.  It was like receiving a shot of a totally legal and very powerful drug.  I was trembling, not from fear but from anticipation and excitement.  Ok, approach the door of the plane, remember to breath, oh and smile big for the camera…..away we gooooooooo!!

Thanks to my video and camera guy Eric too!!!!

OMG, that rush of wind and sound was overwhelming.  Someone had told me I would not be able to scream, but that is not true.  Just ask my tandem instructor…I was screaming!!!  Not from fear but from sheer joy, excitement, “awesome-ness”… 

The free fall was the MOST awesome experience I have had in my life.  No single word can describe that feeling.  The canopy opens after about a minute, and I found myself in a place that is both peaceful beyond belief, and edgy, all at the same time.

The views were awe-inspiring!!!  OMG, I am skydiving!!!!  And the level of wind noise was surprisingly very low… almost like an out of body experience…. floating where the birds go… Defying the rules of life as most know it… pushing the boundaries and not allowing them to push back… Living life on the edge…

By the time I landed on the ground, I was in tears.  Anyone that knows me knows that I do not cry like a girly-girl, so this event alone speaks volumes to the experience I had. They were not tears of fear, not tears of joy… it was an emotional reaction that I could not control, tears as a reaction to the adrenaline rushing through my veins, my body was shaking due to the overload of adrenaline - Mother Nature’s drug of choice for sure!!! 

Everyone at Burnaby was excellent and added to the overall experience.  I felt safe and secure at all times.  Thanks to everyone that helped to make my day a great one, especially to PeeDee, my tandem instructor. (You were right, PeeDee, it was SOOOO much better that scraping the pegs on the bike, but don’t worry… I won’t be getting rid of the bike anytime soon.  I will ride it to Burnaby for my next dive!!!)

I have now found a new “edge” and I WILL BE BACK!!!!  

 Nancy J.

PS:  It is now 3 days since my jump…still can’t sleep because of Mother Nature’s drug (adrenaline), and still have goose bumps.  What a RUSH!!!!

See you guys in a couple weeks.

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We’re glad you loved it Nancy and to answer the question you asked earlier…

“Do any skydivers have a bad day really?”

Answer. “Of course. When we can’t jump.”