Facing Your Fears

Do you have a fear you have no intensions of facing? Imagine facing that fear and it ended up being one of the best things you’ve ever done in your life.

On Saturday, June 21st, I went to the Bowling Green Airport (KH19) in Missouri. I went with my son to spend a relaxing afternoon watching people parachute from a plane. The thought of being out there in the middle of farmland, the only sound to hear would be the faint hum of the airplanes off in the distance. I looked forward to the smells of freshly cut wheat and feeling the crisp cool breeze brush against my face. I looked forward to seeing the parachutes pop open, displaying their brilliant colors. They’ll soar through the sky as bird’s do, swooping in graceful circles, and finally, gliding to a smooth and precise landing.

It just so happened my brother had built up enough flying hours to earn a free jump. Since he was the pilot for the day, rather than jumping himself, he offered the free jump to me. I said, “OH NO! That’s OK, I’ll just watch… but thanks anyway”. My son tugged at my shirt tales saying, “Come On! Mom! It’s a chance of a lifetime! I’ll have a Cool Mom, I’ll buy you a Tee Shirt!”. I told him, “Absolutely not! And I’ll give you 3 goods reasons why not……I don’t want to die yet, It’s insane to jump from a perfectly good airplane…you’d have to PUSH me out. And……. Did I say, I don’t want to die yet???”.

Before I knew it, I was watching instructional video’s, signing papers (hmmm, signing a will, oh THAT’S encouraging!), and gearing up into mechanics overalls, paratrooper boots and motorcycle goggles. How lovely! No fashion statement there!

“What in the world did I get myself into?” I wanted to back out right then and there. The excuses start rolling in my head….”It’s getting late, I need to get home to make dinner.”, “I’m not sure I’m in good enough shape to handle the landing, I might sprain an ankle.”, “If I hurt myself, who would drive my son home?", “I didn’t bring a change of clothes, as I’m sure I’ll soil my pants.”……………or how about, “I’m just plain scared to DEATH!?" I knew using any of these excuses would be brushed off as silly. Thus, my instructions continued.

I went through the motions of jumping from the ground. As soon as we were to reach 10,000 feet, the door will be opened. I was then to pivot on my butt and place my feet out on a platform that measures a mere 8X8 inches. The instructor, being strapped to my back, will of course follow. Next, I was to let go of the plane, fall to my right, turn just enough to be falling backwards and give a little wave to the pilot, “As if to say, weee, look at me….I’m having fuuunnnnnn.” As soon as we were cleared from the plane, I was to arch my back to force us to flip over and then proceed to fall face first. The instructor will then reach over my shoulder from behind, pointing to a gauge strapped to me, which will tell me how high we will be. He’ll do that at 7,500 feet. That will be my cue to pull the ripcord. If I don’t pull it, he will.

The more I became familiar with the steps to take, the more at ease I was with the idea of jumping from a plane. I felt confident, trustworthy, assured, excited! “This won’t be so bad after all." “It’s pretty interesting and this guy seems really knowledgeable about what he’s doing…. I actually feel safe now." “Let’s go! Let’s do it!”

Next thing I knew, the instructor was strapped to my back and we’re sitting on the floor of the plane, in “Indian Style”. I can remember thinking to myself, How much higher do we have to go?, Why is this guy still tightening the straps that keep us connected, Is there something wrong with them? Won’t they stay tight?

WHOOSH!! The door opened! My thoughts...... "I’m going to die! The wind!…. Oh my Gosh! I’m looking at the ground…. It looks like a puzzle or a monopoly board. The platform….only looks like 4 inches. I can’t believe how windy it is. I’m trying to let go of the plane but my hands are glued to it. The instructor is peeling them off so we can move on."

We fell backwards as directed and waved to the pilot. The pilot had a grin on his face…..geez! what did that look mean? I arched my back to flip us over face first. We moved our arms to direct us left and right………ok, that’s nice, now when will we open the chute? The instructor reached over my shoulder, pointing at the gauge. I KNOW I KNOW we are thousands of feet high! Why does he keep pointing that out….I can hardly read the darn thing…it keeps flopping around from the wind, ………………… SWISH!!

Ahhhhhh….. the instructor pulled the ripcord. We jolted to a calm freefall. The wind was smooth and peaceful. We’re in an upright position and steering left and right by pulling on the cords attached to each side of the parachute. We sored like a bird. The feeling was unimaginable, peaceful, beautiful.

I could hear the instructor talking now. He was telling me to move the straps around my buttocks to the middle of my thighs. It would allow me to sit in a cradle position similar to sitting in a swing. That would have been “fine and dandy” had he not tightened them so much. I couldn’t budge them. I pretty much looked like a stick figure at that point.

Just before touching down, I was told, “DO NOT REACH FOR THE GROUND" (uh, did he forget? stick figure here....) pull on the chute cords on each side to slow us down and at the same time, lift your knees. This was to ensure scooting to a landing rather than landing abruptly which can cause you to break an ankle or leg. Well, guess who couldn’t LIFT their legs because the straps were too tight? ME! Stick figures can't bend.
I pulled on the cords, trying my best to lift my knees……and abruptly hit the ground.

I laid there for a few seconds, picked the wheat out of my teeth, and wondered if I was alive. I could hear my son running to me and yelling, “You did it MOM!, that was so cool!, You did it!” I managed to get to my feet. The instructor freed himself from me. I checked my pants to make sure they were dry, and they were. What an amazing experience! The feeling was indescribable; you would have to experience it for yourself. I was glad I could put my fears aside and tried it anyway.

Next time you’re challenged to face your fear, put your fears aside and do it. Just remember, it could end up being one of the best things you’ve tried in your entire life.

Once was enough though......... I prefer flying the airplane. I like having an engine.