chron·i·cles: Sally Forth!

So, sky diving. Or should I say, SKY DIVING!

Now, taking the time to find the words to explain this experience seems small and almost pointless. It was incredible! There was the wind. And the rush, of course. But what has stayed with me is how secure I felt in my harness. How curiously surprised I was at the noise and the bustle of the sky when they opened the door to the plane. How my heart didn't even drop for a second even when I sat on the open-air edge looking down on the world as it does whenever I look over the railing of a cliff or through the window of a giant building.

The drop did hurt, but I believe because I didn't take proper care to minimize the sinus pressure I struggle with on a normal day - on the ground. And also, I couldn't breathe, but I blame my excited scream as I left the plane for having no reserve air in my lungs.

There's no pretending I didn't panic during my free fall, but know this: I was never scared! I got on that plane, I strapped in and I jumped! Do I sound proud of myself? Well, ok, I am a little bit. :)

Once the parachute was deployed, the float down was peaceful (besides all the elements in this little body of mine that were left screaming, of course). Key West was such a choice location and on that perfect day, there is not a sole on this earth, innately miserable or not, who could deny that during those four minutes, heaven was below me and not above.



Thank you, Matt, for taking me! Thank you for making my turning 29 exciting and not dreadful. Thank you for being wonderful and sweet and patient and kind. Thank you for knowing when to put up with my shit and when to not. I love "activities!" But you know that, don't you? So, thank you for that too.

* Check out more pictures on the PHOTOS page! *