You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!

While I was in Germany I mentioned a few times my desire to skydive.  It's on my bucket-list and I still plan to do it eventually.  To feel like you are flying through the air and completely carefree... AWESOME.

Before I left Europe, I had a small Christmas celebration with the family I was with and we exchanged gifts.  I was elated when I found out what Koko and Patrick had gotten me... It was a coupon for something back in Utah, which was nice within itself because I had literally NO room in my suitcase left.  When I got home, I was going paragliding.  

That's right... PARAGLIDING.

I was ecstatic!  However, I had to wait because it was still winter.  I kept saying, "I just have to wait till May... May."  When May came around, I started a new job, was applying to Grad programs, and time got away from me.  I kept saying, "I need to sign up to paraglide," but would never remember when I was actually somewhere I could accessible call.  One day, after carrying around the coupon for about two months so I would remember (haha...), I actually did remember!  I called, booked an appointment... and got ready to jump off a cliff.

Last Friday morning, I finally flew.  My experience was different from friends who have recently gone, in that I was on a tandem ride.  I was hooked up to a professional flyer, Matt, who actually travels all around the world to do airshows.  When he is NOT doing that, he is here in UT working as a tandem instructor/flyer.  I was not completely sure what to expect, but I definitely thought that I was going to be running, jumping, and falling a bit.  However, when hooked up to this guy, I was stepping, leaning, sliding back, and flying.  It was SO simple, and AMAZING to simply ride in the wind.  I didn't have to worry about what cords to pull or how to move the wings.  I just held on to the side-ropes and went with it.  It was incredible...

He asked if I was afraid of roller-coasters, and when I said no, I knew what was going to happen.  We dipped and dove and he went falling and flying SO fast!  Haha... I was loving it!  We also had hawks out hunting that morning and they literally got so close one almost hit my foot and one almost took my face off.  Haha!  It was amazing... sounds it, eh?

My one regret... I got NO pictures.  Lame, I know.  However, the memories were worth a lot more... It was Epic.

Next step?  Skydiving.

*muah*

THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Koko and Patrick (and Nico and Finni!) for this awesome experience!!!

Song of the Day: Here is a great song and great video by Jessie J - "Who You Are."  It's a pretty great message and I love her voice.  Enjoy!