Lake Taupo: Adventures in Skydiving

"A New Zealand must do" said our travel agent. This is where it all began. When it's a couple weeks away it's amazing how brave you can feel. "Sign me up" I heard myself saying. Where the heck did that come from I wondered. A few weeks later - the day of our dive - I suddently began to question my own sanity. I mean really why would anybody want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane 12,000 feet in the air? Well, my husband for one, and so I, not wanting to appear "chicken", bravely started donning my death suit - I mean jump suit. Then to my joy and amazement an older looking gentleman came over and introduced himself to me as my "dive mate". It's funny how when you are young you don't want others to mistake this characteristic as stupid and inexperienced - yet when I saw this older man I instantly felt relieved because surely he must have done this a million times before and be extremely wise and experienced. Hopefully this was to be the case because my life was now in his hands. He began rattling off some important instructions to me, but unfortunately no matter how hard I tried to listen all I heard was a faint buzzing sound in my head. Bzzzbzzzbzzbzzbzz - you got that?" I felt myself nodding yes. Apparently nodding now

meant: I haven't heard a word you said, I'm scared to death, now go ahead and toss me out of the plane. So we loaded up the plane and off we went. Michael was to jump first and I was to be last. Being last meant that I was positioned right next to the pilot. Apparently flying a plane is not too difficult because this guy was doing it with his knees. He had to

Apparently nodding now meant: I haven't heard a word you said, I'm scared to death, now go ahead and toss me out of the plane.

because he was busy keeping statistics - I'm not sure I want to know what these stats are on. I'll wait until I am safely on the ground before I find out. Anyway, Michael keeps looking back at me and giving me various signs; thumbs up, winking, and is now mouthing "I love you." I have absolutely no response for him other than the same toothless grin that I have had plastered on my face ever since the plane took off. Then suddenly the door swings open and Michael has his legs hanging over the side of the plane - then he's gone. Bye, I love you - it's been nice knowing you ran through my mind. Then, to my horror, me and "my mate" were quickly sliding toward the open door. "You ready?" he asked. The same toothless grin and nod. Then my legs were over the edge and we were falling. My cheeks were quickly pinned back into my hairline with the powerful rushing of wind. I forgot I was scared for a few seconds because the moment was so surreal and then ahhhhhhhhh! I kept thinking this is so fun, this is so fun, this is sooo fun! It had become my new mantra. Then the parachute opened - hurray! It was amazing. We were the last jump of the day so we had an amazing sunset over Lake Taupo. The scenery was unbelievable. I had the lake beneath me,

mountains in the horizon, and treees and green fields all around me. Someone was setting off fireworks in the distance and the town was all laid out before me. Beautiful. I absolutely loved it, and now to my disappointment the ride was quickly coming to an end. I wanted to go again and again. It made me feel so alive! Then it dawned on me - the things that at

first glance seem the most impossible - or even life threatening - are quite often the most rewarding. Everyone should try it. It was great fun!

Video to come...

Heather and Michael