The Craving

I am having a difficult time right now with the waiting. Learning to skydive isn't cheap, and the rush has an addictive element like crack. Combine the expense of instruction with the gear intensive nature of the sport and the counter-effective limitations on fiscal resources and you've got a recipe for waiting. To top that off, even if I were somehow to find a way around these, there was shitty weather for past weekend, and forcasts of the same for the coming weekend. Rain, clouds, cold and winds have rolled into the San Diego area. So, even if I wanted to go jumping this weekend, it's not going to happen.

Yet, every day, all I can think about is jumping. In my head, I go through the back flips of AFF6 and the sequence of turns and front flips of AFF7; I been watching a video of someone doing AFF 7, and I get so excited seeing the student leap out of the plane with no one holding on to him. It is such a powerful image for me: Freedom; trust; advancement; skill; understanding.  I have so many questions I want to ask, and so many jumps I want to do, and so many things I look forward to being able to try. I'm looking forward to this great adventure, but I want it to start happening NOW!

While it's not immediate, my plan is to go on 21/Feb, weather permitting. I'm trying to round up other people at work who are interested in going, and I've got a few nibbles. Regardless, my plan is to complete AFF5-AFF7 and then do a C8 jump. Four jumps is a lot of jumping, and will probably take the whole day not to mention a load of cash. The last part might be pleasantly mitigaged as I received a suprise today when the CEO announced at a company meeting that we are receiving bonuses. I haven't received my notice yet, but I know exactly where that bonus will be going. So, even though I've lost a bit of money on the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (at least as of today) I should have more than enough to fill the pockets of the dropzone owner, staff and instructors. Plus, I might be able to get a bit of my own gear...

Oh no, now it's going to get expensive!