Oh yeah - that's why I jump...(long)

[jumper03 0]

Last week was the week from hell. Seemed to never end and the shite kept coming faster than I could deal with it. Got a letter from the soon to be ex with our hearing date to make it all final. Then got a call from my sister in Germany, seems Grandma's been sent home from the hospital because they can't do anything else for her (never heard of that happening before!) Job was getting to me- I've been two breaths from chucking the bosses sorry ass right outta the window... Then blew out and re-injured both knees on a long run trying to bleed off stress and just ended up making more... Got brand new tires on my truck and one gets a screw in it and was flat as a pancake. I was honestly thinking, the way my luck is running right now, maybe tempting fate by jumping out of a plane ain't such a good idea. Even leaving to go to the DZ, I almost blow a gasket having to deal with Friday afternoon Boston traffic. I never wanted an Abrams Tank so bad in my life. Doc tells me I'm close to having perforated ulcers and I can feel them getting ready to pop sitting in my truck....

Finally get to the DZ - rig is still not together from my cut-away because of miscommunications, ah screw it, I'm renting and get on the sunset load. The ride up, things start to feel better. I'm doing a solo and decide to work on my fall rate and play with leg turns some more. Up, Up, Up we go. Check the Alti - 14,000!! WAY TO GO JOHN!! 4-way goes, couple of 2-ways go, then me. I turn to face the sun and this feeling of peace, awe and serenity sweeps over me. I take a few secs to look around, plenty of seperation, yep, moving off the jump line, do a few slow downs and speed ups, some while turning and damn, the entire time, this is the most beautiful I have ever seen the sun.
The winds were out of the east and we were on a jump run that the regulars were saying is very unusual - only a few times a year and man, we were out there. I mean WAAAAAY out there. Any way, finish my drills, and have a few more secs to enjoy this amazing sunset.

Pull at 4,000, and get turned towards the LZ, still WAAAY out there so I leave the brakes stowed. I get the leg straps just perfect, my flight back is into the sun and letting me watch this amazing view the entire time. The colors in the sky and on the ground are as crisp, clear and vivid as I can ever remember seeing them. I'm going with the wind and I am definitely covering some ground. Gonna make it back no problem. There is no sound, even the slider is being quiet. The temp is perfect - maybe 60-65, everything seems to be working just right. Fly straight into the pattern and nail the X.

Yep, that's why I jump
I just get the feeling there was a giant invisible hand giving me a gentle reminder to slow down and enjoy the here and now and worry about what is in your control and not to let the world get you down.

Jump

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