tuesday november 3rd

i just love birthdays so much. i hate the people that despise them and try to not celebrate them.  

we really should always be celebrating your life, because that's why you exsit and when it's your birthday you should do something extra special to celebrate. and so today- being my birthday... i woke yet again with only a few hours of sleep. i managed to rock it till the wee hours of the night with some new friends we'd made to celebrate being another year older. today's birthday agenda- skydiving at 7am. everyone keeps asking me if i was absolutely scared out of my mind... and to be honest, the thrill and rush that comes over you when you are 14,000 feet above the world is more exilerating that anything i've ever experienced in my life.you would think that jumping out of an airplane you would need some instructions- if an 8 minute video with an austrlian accent too thick to comprehend along with a girl from holland who barley spoke english keept asking me questions about the waiver you're supposed to have filled out consists of an 'instrucstional video'- than yes, i guesss i felt informed?? 

after boarding the 8 seater plane, the realization of what we were about to do kicked in once we started going past the clouds, and the world looked like a grid. i would say at that point the nerves started kicking in. there was never regret, never doubts that my cute would not open, just a wave of wonder- and hope that we'd go through a cloud. cameron, my tandem jump mate was also celebrating his birthday- now i've only met one other person in my life that has the same birthday as me, so to me this was a really good sign that i was safe.

the doors to the plane opened, a COLD wind rushed past our faces, and at that moment i saw my life flash before my eyes. the only thing i kept telling myself was- don't look down. there was no countdown, just a slight push, and we were free falling 14,000ft above the coast of cairnes, sights of the great barrier reef, the lush rainforests, and mountains below... i think i'm safe to say that i felt like a bird. then reality set in- my ears were popping, and fast. i tried to equalize them, however when you're falling that fast you barely have control of breathing. i couldn't keep my mouth shut- drool was coming out, and wind was whipping past me... there was no way you could even scream if you tried. once the parachute was pulled the world stopped before my eyes. it could quite possibly be the most surreal moment of my life thus far. yet, another in-describable moment, one that if you've never sky-dived before you are missing out on something so powerful, and adrenaline rushing that i'll leave up to you as a choice to take. the landing of the whole process was  forgotten due to early morning drinks. needless to say i am blogging, so i have survived yet another crazy milestone in my life- here's to another year, and jumping 14,000ft with an amazing best friend- kate.

xoxo,

simon.