Moments D433: My turn - Up Close & Personal

I spent the entire day on the CSC drop zone today. I watched the wingsuit crew come and go as they made their competition jumps. I took a zillion photos of the skies filled with the canopies of parachutes. I took a few more of the wingsuit crew while they were on the ground. Some shortly after landing, other photos of them as they re-packed their chutes. What an incredible amount of activity to take in. Top it off with the fact that it was a beautiful day, sunny, though windy and not too hot. I have some amazing photos.

But, the very biggest part of my day was my first ever tandem jump. After going up in one of the planes that the wingsuit crew jumped from as an observer (yes I came down with the plane!), I had an idea of what it would look like. Interestingly, I wasn't freaked out at all to see people jump from the plane as an observer. (Some of the crew thought I might be.)   I was ready to check this off my bucket list!

My tandem jump was scheduled near the end of the day, not quite sunset, but very darn close. What an incredible moment it was as I was sitting in the loading area with my AWESOME tandem instructor Woody. He kept me talking on the ride up to 14,000 feet; a smart tactic for those that may find themselves overly nervous. I was nervous (any new experience brings nerves), but I wasn't worried about it. I knew that I was in the best hands that I could be in.

Stepping off the plane, a lot surreal. Sixty seconds of freefall – uber-surreal. The wind hitting you at ~130 miles per hour means that it’s loud and it’s powerful. I was thankful for the goggles as even with them I had tears running from my eyes. But it wasn't enough to stop me from looking around. Watching the plane “fall” away from me, smiling and giving the camera man a thumbs up, finding EQ in the air for a kiss-pass (apparently quite common in the sport!), and of course looking for the ground.  In freefall I couldn't (or didn't) see the curvature of the earth, but in this photo during my jump, you can really see it!

Before I knew it, my 60s of freefall was over and the chute was opened.  We were quickly snapped into a much slower fall under the canopy. Woody gave me the reins and I was navigating the chute above us. It was incredible to be floating to the earth as I was. Woody even had us do a few spins around as we floated down. So much fun. It wasn't until we approached the ground again that I had any sense of the speed we were arriving at. Of course, after watching the process all day, I knew that the landing was pretty quick and when done well, you basically were set upon your feet gently. Woody (and I?) landed it perfectly on our feet. An amazing experience that was followed by many greetings of congratulations, hugs, high fives, and laughter from the entire crew I met yesterday. Again, very surreal to have them share such energy with me, the newbie.

A huge thank you to EQ and his teammates for making it such an incredibly special moment for me. The memory of falling away from the plane (those 3-4 seconds I could see it) is a memory will be with me forever.  

Moments stepping outside the box (or in this case the plane).

Moments realizing you really can do anything you set your mind to.

Time to revisit my list!

Moments D432: An introduction to the Sky diving culture

I love experiencing new things.  Every opportunity to grow is one that I embrace.  Not all of them are happy, joyous learning opportunities, but they all stretch my soul.  So when I was offered an opportunity to have a inside introduction into the world of sky diving, how could I ever possibly say no?  What I didn't realize was just how much I would enjoy meeting this new world.

Today I went with EQ to the drop zone in Rochelle, IL - Chicagoland Skydiving Center. It was a first for me to be on a drop zone and to meet people who sky dive. Not only did I meet some of the veterans of this particular drop zone, I was fortunate enough to meet the wingsuit group here for their first annual Sequentials Competition. Incredible people.  It's no wonder EQ loves the energy of this sport and the people he flys with.  They are such amazing people. Vibrant, full of life and energy, and they easily accepted me into their group even though I was a true outsider to the sport.

I watched as they practiced their rotations for the jumps planned tomorrow. I took a few photos and pondered their sport as they organized themselves. This sport takes sky diving to the next level. More dangerous and somewhat controversial in some circles, but for those in the sport, a testament to and surely more of an adrenaline rush. Check out this video to give you an idea!

It was an incredible moment to meet this group. I felt honoured that EQ introduced me to his sport mates – it was like being a fly on the wall, for I truly was an outsider. After an afternoon break, we met up with the crew again for a delightful Mexican dinner.  Conversations were easy to come to me with much laughter dabbled throughout the evening. What a delightful way to be introduced to a new sport and a new group of people.

Moments knowing you have no idea what to expect next.

Moments watching in awe and absorbing in the (new) energy.  

Moments D431b: CARDED

What a fabulous feeling:  Not only was I carded at the airport bar, but the bartender made it a point to tell me that he really didn't believe my date of birth.  All I could do was chuckle.

AWESOME.

Moments D431: Tall Ships

As I drove over the Burlington skyway today, I was surprised to see four tall ships in Lake Ontario.  It was incredible!  There they were, peeking out of the fog, like a movie set.

I couldn't help but watch them as I passed over the skyway.  (Carefully of course, after all I was driving!)  Why were these beauties here?  I have seen the tall ships before, up close and personal in a marina somewhere in Southern Ontario (I can't remember.....I'm no longer a young pup!).  As awe inspired as I was years ago up close and personal, I found myself now awe inspired from afar.  I had never seen them "out and about" before, only docked.  And here they were.  All four of them trekking through the lake.  So lovely.  Lovely enough to pause and watch....if I had the time.

But, I was on a timeline to the Buffalo airport.  My long, long weekend has officially begun.  This sweet inspiring surprise only reminds me just how many more surprises are (likely) in store for me this coming weekend.  I am ready.  It's time to fly.

Moments of surprise.

Moments of remembering first encounters, and enjoying the beauty of a second encounter.

Moments D430: Sweet smell of lillacs

Today was an incredibly productive day that ended in a concert with my BFF with the Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox Twenty.  An incredible show, with a plastic guitar filled with white wine.  But this is not my special moment of the day, as amazing as it was.

No, today's moment is a simple one.  My partner in crime at work picked a bouquet of lilac flowers for one of the graphic designers on our team as it was her birthday.  The smell of lilacs filled our dark, crowded office.  Their sweetness brightened up the room considerable.  It was incredible how such a small bunch of flowers shifted the room.  When I left the office and then returned, I noticed that I was taking in a deep breath as I walked across the room to my desk.  

Ah, the sweet smell of lilacs.

Moments of simplicity.

Moments enjoying the flowers of the season.

Moments D429: Graduation Day

Today I left work at lunch.  A planned half vacation day because today was my niece's graduation from high school.  I have been a part most if not all of this lovely young ladies milestones in the past18 years.    This certainly was not one I was going to miss just because it fell on a work day.

My niece was nervous... she kept talking about tripping up the stairs.  We all assured her that that would not phappen.

Watching her prep and preen....I felt the proud aunt. Dropping her off at her friends and experience not to be missed. She was radiant.  She was ready to leave high school behind.

Well the graduation itself was a bit painful in that it was long and the arena without air conditioning was stinking hot and humid, I wouldn't have missed it for the world. As my niece crossed the stage, I let out one of my piercing whistles that did not end until she was no longer on the stage. So focused was I on cheering her on that I actually didn't get a spectacular photo of her in her moment. But I know that she knew where that with was coming from and honestly that's all that mattered.

I am so very proud of my niece she has grown into a beautiful, kind, intelligent young lady.  I find myself excited for her and her new adult life ahead of her and I can't help but reflect upon my own. Here we are two souls separated by 21 years and yet we find ourselves both starting new paths. 

Before I said goodnight to her and went on my way home,she hugged me close and asked me to fill her in on my fun weekend coming.  Of course I would...I told her.   New adventures await us both.

Moments celebrating milestones.

Moments celebrating your loved ones.

Moments D428: Quotes

Tomorrow is my "nieces" graduation.  I've taken a half day off to go down to Welland and celebrate this milestone with her.  She has grown into an amazing young woman and I'm so very proud of her.

Today's moment, was my decision to write out 22 quotes to tuck into her graduation card.  They are inspiring reminders of the life that she is about to build for herself.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Life the life you have imagined.  ~Henry David Thoreau.
2. Give light and people will find their way.  ~Ella Baker
3. Common sense is not so common.  ~Voltaire
4. You're off to great places, Today is your day!  Your mountain is waiting, So....get on your way.  ~Dr. Seuss
5. Hozoo'naa'n taa'aa ~ Navajo Saying  (Fly in beauty)
6. Dear past, thank you for the lessons.  Dear future, I am ready.  (Anonymous)
7. The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts. ~Marcus Aurelius
8. Faith is the bird that feels he light when the dawn is still dark.  ~Rabindranath Tagore
9. Not all who wander are lost.  J.R.R. Tolken
10. Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.  ~Dalai Lama
11. Inhale the future, exhale the past.  (Anonymous)
12. Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.  ~Charlotte Whitton
13. Don't look back, you're not going that way.  (Anonymous)
14. If you could get up the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.  ~David Viscott
15. Action is the real measure of intelligence.  ~Napoleon Hill
16. By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.  ~Benjamin Franklin
17. Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is not path and leave a trail.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
18. Fear is what stops you, and courage is what keeps you going. (Anonymous)
19. To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.  ~Winston Churchill
20. Nii hozoo'anii'nii go'o hhozoo'naa s'aa  ~Navajo Saying  (In beauty this is finished, in beauty this begins.
21. Breathe light into darkness.  ~J.Pidgen
22. It's not always rainbows and butterflies.  Its compromise that moves us along. ~Maroon 5 Lyrics

Moments basking in pride for a loved one's accomplishments.

Moments sharing words of encouragement and inspiration.