Anniversary Flight

October 25, 2008


A flight to celebrate one year of skydiving, even if it WAS only a few times over the past year. Here, not only do I seal this enchanting year with one more flight, I reminisce on the others that had led to this very moment.


A year ago, a southern star had so touched my heart that I could not help but follow it. Once indifferent to the land it came from, my heart grew more and more tender toward this star... and the distant land, and I delighted in seeing it the 3 times it had appeared.


Today, this southern star was not there, and I was reminded that some are only here for a season. However, there are many more stars to follow, dreams to follow, and possibly a calling to follow. Maybe the southern star I had so counted on being there was only meant to guide me until the dream it encouraged was well secured within my heart.


Today, I had a new skydive instructor who was more than happy to share my Anniversary Flight. He was as wonderful to me as my previous instructors were, ensuring that my sky high adventure was the utmost fulfilling. In fact, I think his rowdines was even a bit contagious... lol!


Here's to you, Albert! : )

Third Flight... Again for the First Time!

April 25, 2008
It had been raining for the past six months… or at least that's how my heart felt, until he returned from Australia to finally lay to rest the uncertainty which had relentlessly and tearfully tormented me after a painfully awkward "defense case" in the ready room of the Parachute Center. Only about a week ago, the sun finally came out as I approached Joe as my skydiving instructor once again. Last October, as I confided one personal weakness, I was discovering another! Little did I know at that time I would lose my heart to Australia, and that the very mention of that wonderland Down Under would quicken my pulse nearly every time. But that's just what happened one autumn day as I walked away from the charming Australian gentleman I had literally trusted with my life.

Last Sunday, I once again took a literal "leap of faith" in Lodi, California. I had grown increasingly impatient for Sunday to come since I turned a paper into one of my classes and felt the stress of school melt away almost completely, leaving me to fend off the captivating anticipation of another sky high adventure. As much as I would have liked some footage, I had to watch my money this month. I would have to simply cherish the memory of my Third Flight. But then, isn't collecting memories what I do best?

My alibi is that if I can find the courage to jump out of a plane and trust God to preserve my life with a parachute, I can trust Him to carry me through an interview, an audition, or even the penetrating gaze of a classmate as I'm telling him my heart has gone out to him. Well, at the very least I'm not lying, as Rob had told me "You can handle the stage because you overcame a greater fear…" If I need an excuse for following my heart back to Lodi, I don't have to look much further than the stage at Shasta Hall. Who knows what really compels me to return to Lodi? I guess my heart yearns to relive the first day I found such a tremendous amount of courage. And like they say, third time's a charm!

I woke up Sunday morning, April 20^th, and my heart rate skyrocketed before I even opened my eyes. I was to take my Third Flight! I couldn't help wondering how much more my heart will be pounding the morning I wake up to fly to Australia if I'm accepted to study abroad. I started off the day with a refreshing shower, and then I figured I would have a lot to walk off later that day, so I decided to get a head start as I made my way toward campus on the bike trail, Skydive Memoir cup in hand. My heart had been in suspense over some pressing matters, and this day the unsettling questions I would only allow time itself to answer me would finally be answered. I arrived at the Peak Adventures building right at 10 am, give or take a few minutes, but the others were just then arriving, including the staff in charge of the trip to Lodi. We played this name tag before making our way, which was interesting, since many of them were international students with names I sure can't recall now.

My Starbucks custom cup with my skydive pictures was a nice conversation starter, especially since I already had two previous jumps and could fill the first time jumpers in on what to expect. I made my own personal hopes for the day known to my fellow Sac State students, but hey, there's got to be one in every bunch right? If wearing my heart on my sleeve does anything for me, it takes away from my focus on my returning skydiving apprehension.

I once again had that subtle question in the back of my mind, "Dear God, am I asking for it by making another skydive jump?" I'd like to believe God supports my efforts to conquer my fears from 13,000 feet high, as one Sunday when that question was weighing on me, I saw a beautiful picture of someone gliding under a big white canopy by a snowy mountain. Some days later, that question was causing some unrest once again, when I came across a certain comforting scripture: " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' " (Jeremiah 29:11) That helped me quite a bit, boosting my courage to press on with my sky high endeavor.

Meanwhile, back to the present, I'd been told it would be about a couple hours once I turned in my release form. As I told the lady who collected the form, I had all the patience in the world! At least this time I had some soothing music to help somewhat keep the (week long) anticipation at bay. I bounced between reading my novel Shadow Bride and watching for the "flying confetti," as I like to call the groups of skydivers approaching land. At one point, I was reading my book (or at least trying to) when I suddenly realized Joe was very close to landing with his previous customer before he would take me next. I rushed outside, only to find I'd missed his landing. I saw those familiar red pants with the white stripes when I first arrived and wondered if it was him, and now there he was off in the distance gathering his parachute and heading toward the ready room. He stopped and looked right at me. Not knowing what else to do, but very aware of how happy I was that he had come back from Australia, I just smiled at him as if to say, "Welcome back, Joe." After all, my heart reflected just that.

For having the previous four days seem to take forever, that was a very short two-hour wait for me, and before I knew it, Kathy was calling 's 34-38 to go to the ready room. Oh goodness, the moment of truth! Where did I stand with Joe? He seemed unsettled about taking me the first time, after the red flag I'd waved concerning my paranoid schizophrenia and anxiety. I was grateful he'd agreed to take me up, and moreover, that I'd found the courage to live out a childhood dream. Who cares that I'd closed my eyes as I approached the plane exit for the first time? The most important thing was that I'd been able to jump. I don't even think I was aware of my pounding heart as Joe said with a sweet smile, "Hi! How are you?" I think I was in a daze as I said, "Joe?... Welcome back." "How is school?" "I'm kinda ready for it to be over…" and on I went, telling Joe about my eventful past several months, including a New Years resolution to try and study abroad in Australia. How was I to tell him that in the past six months I'd warmed up to Australia considerably? Well, I was pleased to hear he welcomed the idea. Naturally, I was still talking about it when we headed toward the plane. Joe was his normal, attentive self as we rode over to where our plane would take off.

I think there were only two people from my group: Dan and his son, Mondo. Although I didn't have a camera man this time, I was invited by Dan and Mondo to stand in their picture. Oh, I was flattered! Nice to be seen as a friend by a couple of guys I may or may not see again. That's what camaraderie is about: being friends in the midst of a difficult moment whether we know each other or not. The fellowship is what I thrive on! I'd told Mondo while we were waiting, "When we get on that plane, you're going to be my moral support!" He'd replied, "I think you'll be that for me…" That's what I'm talking about! Finally the plane arrived for boarding, and I asked Joe for his hand as we approached the steps. Joe, having already once again melted away my defenses with his kindness and attentiveness, took mine and we made our way to our seats.

I've loved flying for years, especially the feeling of taking off. I loved connecting flights whenever I traveled because I'd have that rush of ascending. But even with two jumps behind me, I still had a lot of apprehension to work out. I asked Joe if he was nervous the first time he jumped. He said, "Oh yes… after awhile, it's not so bad." I made what small talk I could to help take the edge off, such as my flight back to Little Rock in December to attend my graduation commencement. I was honest about my feelings at the moment, though. I had told Joe at one point, when he asked if I was alright, that the movement of the plane made me feel jittery. It helped not to feel (or look) like I was hiding something. Telling him I was fine when I was, in fact, feeling scared just seemed pointless. But I had also told him, "If anything, this will be over too quickly." I knew that from experience as well. Here I was about to jump for the third time, and yet it felt like my first. Two previous jumps hadn't necessarily made this one easy. Once again, Joe was not about to put the pressure on to jump, so it was entirely up to me. Without the camera man, it was a bit more difficult to dismiss my rising apprehension, and I was once again telling myself, "Barbara, you've got to jump." My aunt had told me I put very high demands on myself. I don't know, maybe it's true. Maybe it comes with an early childhood of taking part of other activities whether I was scared or not. Maybe it was also joining the Service and taking on adventures which left me feeling scared but nevertheless demanded that I press on. I guess putting my fears on the back burner to some extent had been ingrained in me. Even the memory of being newly assigned to work at the Fitness Center at Beale Air Force Base and wondering if I'd measure up to the tasks resurfaces as I reminisce my latest flight.

Talk about taking one day at a time, in Lodi I have to take it one moment at a time! Once again I felt the sudden halt of the plane as we reached altitude. I pushed through that unsettling but familiar apprehension as Joe and I approached the exit. I don't even know what Joe had said to me when we reached the edge; I barely knew he had spoken to me. I can only suppose he asked me if I was alright, since it seemed to be consistent with him. I had acknowledged my surroundings just enough to reply to Joe with "Let's do this thing!" and managed to block my apprehension just enough to keep from changing my mind. I already knew from experience it would be well worth it if I could just get my timid backside out that door, and I still was certain I'd deeply regret it if I'd backed away. Thankfully I have yet to realize that. I've got John legend playing as I write this, singing Save Room, a rather captivating song I heard this past week as I was waking up. Hearing him singing "Don't be afraid of a little bit of pain; pleasure is on the other side. Let down your guard just a little…" serves as a reminder. Whatever he's singing about, it conveys another meaning to me as I work to overcome the natural apprehension that goes with skydiving. How true that is, though! Natural apprehension led to natural high! I felt a lot more aware of the high risk factor as I approached the edge this time than even the first time I jumped. As we were free falling, I felt I was struggling just to breathe. Joe kept giving me thumbs up as if to ask if I was alright. I should have known that wind greatly limiting our hearing wasn't enough to stop him from checking up on me…lol! He was probably doing that my first time until he realized my eyes were shut, as I was made aware of when I watched my First Flight video (Joe, yes I know you were laughing at me back then!). I barely heard Joe's voice during the free fall, and I couldn't hear mine at all so I didn't expect him to be able to either. I had my eyes open this time, except when we had just jumped till the point when Joe took my hands and held them out since I didn't respond when he tapped me on the arm. I was thinking, "Are you sure?" as I had braced myself more than I had my previous two flights.

I was quite anxious for Joe to pull that parachute chord already and grateful when he did so. The only drawback was the sudden reminder with that unfolding canopy that our landing was fast approaching, even with the increased awareness of how awkward my still fairly-new adventure felt as we were getting settled in our glide downward. Joe continued asking me if I was alright, and I continued telling him about the impact my first flight with him had had on me and about my tearful journal entry two nights after my First Flight. (see 1st paragraph of First Flight) I so appreciated Joe's kindness and attentiveness, but I didn't want him to worry about me so much. I'd hoped he knew his time was immensely worthwhile, but I think he did. I'd said, "This feels like heavenly bliss" and he replied, "Excellent." Alas, we were only seconds from landing. "Like I said, it comes and goes too quickly!" There was quite a handful of people right there waiting for us to land. There didn't seem to be any room to land. Joe had told me he'd either say "Legs up" or "Stand." However, not even hearing what he said, out of reflex I did what I'd done the first two times. I put my feet up and went "Aaahhhh!" Well, I just thought I was going to kick someone accidentally in the process of landing. It scared me; I didn't want to hurt anyone. Thankfully I didn't.

And with that my Third Flight was complete! I had spent months hoping I could jump with Joe again, and that prayer was answered! But I hadn't acknowledged that midnight would strike eventually and I would turn back into a pumpkin. That part causes me more aching than jumping out of that airplane. My golden opportunity to recapture my First Flight with my Third had been brief, but a blessing nonetheless. Whenever I find it difficult to count my blessings, I simply remind myself that the best is yet to come!
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April 20, 2010... I just realized I have no blog for my Fourth Flight... the Best of Both Worlds! and I have no video for this one. So here's some very brief footage on my Fourth Flight, since I didn't have a videographer. I only had my aunt with me who caught me landing.

Second Flight... Joe vs. Rob

February 4, 2008
For my 35^th birthday, I took my second skydiving trip. I had decided, after appeasing a childhood dream, that I would do a few more flying leaps for personal growth. I thought, "If I can jump out of a perfectly good plane a handful of times, maybe I can overcome my dislike toward performing monologues and my absolute hatred toward writing term papers." (latter still very much in question) My sister, Katie, drove me to Lodi, California after my last class, and I was already starting to feel jittery about my second jump. I went in, trying to ignore my returning apprehension, paid for the jump and the footage, and sat down to review the introduction video while filling out the release form.

There was that darn question on the form again: "Medical conditions?" So out of sheer respect for the staff and for no other purpose, I reluctantly wrote, "Paranoid Schizophrenia, Anxiety." I figured "Depression" wasn't a factor since an exhilarating skydive is not even remotely conducive to depression. I had a natural high the last time that wouldn't quit! I showed Rob, my instructor, the personal information on the form and said, "Please don't be alarmed by this; I've already jumped once." I was worried that Rob, like Joe had, would hesitate to take me under his wing, but it seemed to go in one ear and out the other. Rob said, "Oh, I'm not worried about that." I was quite taken aback. Little, still, did I know how different from Joe Rob would be.

As we prepared in the ready room, I had mentioned that I had my eyes closed much of the time during my first jump. My instructor and the camera man both told me not to close my eyes. I was making no promises; I didn't care what they said! I don't know if Rob had filled the other guys in about my personal weaknesses (although I'm sure he didn't), but they seemed to test my will considerably. One staff member boarding the plane told me, "He's the crazy skydiver, more like the skyjumper." Still trying to keep my apprehension under control, I thought, "Whatever." So I board the plane, and as we're taking off, the guys on the plane are cracking jokes as one shouts to Rob, "Did you take your medicine?" He said, "No, I didn't think I'd need it!" I'm telling myself, "Oh, they're just full of it." Thankfully Rob had 12 years of skydiving experience under his belt; that much eased my mind. So as we're gaining altitude I'm thinking things like, "Dear Lord, please help me jump. I can't chicken out because my sister's down there with my two nieces, and she'd be ticked if she brought me all the way out here and then I didn't jump!" I was also contemplating promising God I'd never procrastinate with another term paper again and asking the camera man if we were there yet.

We finally reach 13,000 feet and someone opens the door. I'm thinking…no, wait. I'm not thinking at all because I can't afford to at this point! So I'm still blowing the cold shoulder to my relentless apprehension as we start to approach the door, and I decide, "To heck with them; I'm shuttin' my eyes! My top priority, once again, is jumping." So I approach the door with my eyes shut and sure enough, Shai says, "Open your eyes!" Doggone him! So reluctantly I open my eyes. I think, "Ok, just yield to them and get out that doggone door!" We jump, I shut my eyes again until we've evened out on our free fall and Rob taps my arms to stretch them out, and somehow I pull off keeping my eyes open for the rest of the decent. I was more relaxed this time and not as easily shaken by the accelerated descent. I think without the element of the unknown, the shock of having jumped out of a plane was not so intense. However, that is no reflection on Joe. I could never discredit him. He helped me find my wings, and for that he will remain always dear to me.

While the apprehension couldn't be helped, I was still able to enjoy the moment. Shai descends to our level and I shoot some silly looks. Then he takes my hands and we spin around in our free fall descent. It was all still kinda scary and felt a little awkward, it being only my second flight and all, but I was determined to make the best of it. That was awesome, joining hands in the free fall. It made me think of the video of the Air Force Academy where students were skydiving and several of them were joining hands.

Finally, I hear that light popping sound. Rob has pulled the parachute and we have decelerated our fall. I thought it would shoot us up in the air. Maybe it was the high winds keeping at bay the sudden momentary ascent as the parachute went up, or maybe the video of Joe and me as ours went up was simply an illusion from the still free falling camera man's point of view, but this time with my eyes open, I could see that the unfolding parachute had simply slowed down our decent. Thank goodness I wasn't thinking about how many miles per hour we were previously falling at the time, that may have been a bit too much.

Rob hands me the toggle straps to the parachute and proceeds to tell me how to handle them. How different he was from Joe! Joe was extremely watchful over me, asking me many times if I was alright, and reassuring me that I could back away anytime. Honestly, I found Joe's attentiveness quite comforting. I believe God gave me what I was ready for, when I was ready for it. Then there was Rob, who was like, "I'm not worried about your disability, you're not going to close your eyes, and you're going to help me land." I thought, "Oooookaaay." But the gentle glide was easier that time, and I wasn't so nervous about how high I was. Rob was cool to jump with, but he was no nonsense when I needed to focus on what I was doing. I honestly think if I'd told Rob I didn't want to jump he would have said, "Tough luck, you're jumping." I think the momentary seriousness in time of need was the only thing Joe and Rob had in common. Honestly, I think the wide contrast between them is just plain hilarious! I'm certain, while some apprehension will be inevitable, my Third Flight will be easier and smoother still.

First Flight... My Heart Still Soars!

I thought I had no reason for time to stand still until one day...

October 23, 2007Within a tear I see a memory of flying. My heart yearns to recapture the moment I was free falling so much it aches. I keep reliving that moment of courage, and more tears fall. Frightened for a moment, naturally high for days. Sometimes the benefits wait to come. Sometimes the ecstasy holds back, then overpowers, and I'm back in the clouds with the wind carrying me and the Lord's wings guiding me. An angel guards me, keeping a constant watchful eye to assure that I'm alright. He's flown a thousand times, and is now appointed to oversee my first flight. He knows how fragile I am, and attentively protects me. While still thousands of feet in the sky, I try to remind myself I am safe. As we start to float down, my guardian angel consoles me and points to my home from still afar. My heart then pounding, my memory now intoxicating. My tears now reminding me how quickly time itself flies and that I must take life one day, one step, even one moment at a time. I have foolishly rushed time for too long, letting life pass me by. I need to savor each blessing, each sunset, each rose, each breath, or I'll be left with only a sense of longing. Some people thought I was crazy, and for a moment, so did I. But for the sake of a little dreaming child, I closed my eyes and held my breath. In one moment, 13,000 feet high, I took a leap of faith, and still my heart takes flight.

I wrote this in a moment of sadness that my flight had come and gone so quickly. I wasn't even trying to wrote a monologue. I was only pouring my burning heart (and some tears) onto some paper because I had a wash of emotion I didn't know what else to do with. After writing this, I wondered if others would be blessed with it so I emailed it to my instructor asking for permission to change my autodrama monologue. I am still awaiting his answer, but I'll find out today.

October 30

October 24, 2007

Why did I do it? I had been very fascinated with the idea of parachuting when I was a child. I had even dreamed one night back then of jumping off the top of my grandparents' stairs with an umbrella in my hand and floating down like Mary Poppins. I didn't do this for the 34 year-old in me; she could have cared less. I did it for the 9 year-old who, I guess, still wanted to do it. I didn't just wake up one morning and say, "Hey, I think I'll go looking for a skydiving opportunity around here." I saw a flier on campus about an upcoming trip through Peak Adventures to the Parachute Center in Lodi, California. I felt God was giving me a chance to fulfill a childhood dream. I just felt compelled to do this. I was more afraid of not taking an opportunity of a lifetime and regretting it for the rest of my life than I was of taking that jump. Was I scared? You bet! But I knew there was something in it for me if I took that jump in spite of my fear of heights. I've learned over the years I can do more than I think I can do, and that doesn't have to mean running long distance. When I was younger, I was never going to join the military. I was never going to go to college, and I certainly wasn't going to make it to Star Wars, Celebration III back in 2005. I figured, why not throw skydiving in there too?

Did I go unprepared? I don't think so. I scrounged around for my blank gel capsules I hadn't seen since before I moved, which happened to be in one of those bins under my bed, and put 7 drops each of Lavender and Chamomile to keep my anxiety at bay, plus 3 drops of peppermint in each of 12 capsules and took them regularly until it was time to jump, even up to only minutes before it was time to go into the ready room to get strapped up. Because--and only because-- the man on the video said to bring any medical conditions to the attention of my instructor so he or she could take the necessary precautions, I reluctantly told him of my situation, and he notified a lady from the front counter. They were both very concerned about me; I thought they weren't going to let me jump. Basically, I was adamant enough about wanting to, that Joe decided we'd be the last ones to jump, and there would be no pressure if I changed my mind. On the plane, I just kept reminding myself to relax, jump now, and think later. When the plane reached altitude, it felt like the plane was coming to a screeching halt, and since most of us were first time jumpers, I could hear a lot of "Aaahh!!"s. Then I saw someone open the door. During the whole flight, what seemed like every 60 seconds, Joe kept saying, "Are you all right?" "Yes!" as I was wishing the plane would get up there already. I kept my fussing about my jitters to a minimum, admitting to them only once, since Joe was so worried about me as it was. But when I saw people start to jump, I thought as I was still making great effort to stay relaxed, "Ok, I can understand how this would look insane to some people." Joe says, "You all right?" "Yeah." I'm fighting panic even more now. I decide I'd better just keep my eyes closed, or I'd start thinkin'. I didn't have to see where I was going. Joe had harnessed me to him while we were ascending. I just had to follow his lead. So blindly, I scooted up as told, approached the open door, eyes still tight shut. Joe says, "Are you alright?" "Yeah." "You still want to do this?" "Uh-huh." Heck, I didn't know any better. I couldn't see what was in front of me. Joe says, "Ready... Jump." I jumped like it was nothing. Once we evened out in our 1 minute free fall to belly down, then I opened my eyes. Then I saw the ground below me; even Sacramento, which was 45 minutes from Lodi, was within sight. Only then did I think something along the line of, "I just did what?!" Talk about a rush! It was certainly a leap of faith indeed. I kept reminding myself there was plenty of space between the ground and us, and that there was a parachute that would break our fall. Although I was fighting panic (the essential oils and relaxation probably made it possible to jump at all), it was still so fascinating, and I was amazed that I'd had the courage to make that jump. During the free fall, I heard only the wind and didn't even bother trying to speak. Once Joe (finally!) pulled the chord and let up the parachute, true to form: "Are you alright?" "Yeah." Meaning, "I'm still breathing, and my pulse is still at a safe rate at the moment." Talking about other things while we were floating down helped me keep my focus off my fears. Joe was wonderfully skilled with the free fall, the gliding down, and even the landing. It didn't even hurt to land as I'd been told it would. We just had to lift our legs up and we landed sitting, or rather sliding, on the grass.

Well, as scary as it was, I had a little girl to think about. I had to do this for her sake, and I'm so very glad I did. Once I was back on the ground, my jitters just vanished. I wasn't all, "Yeah, that was cool!" but I was very grateful I'd been able to do this. I had been able to defy my fears and jump in spite of them, at least this time.

Hours later, I had finally polished my reports and midterm paper and turned them in online when I was just piddling with my pictures and reminiscing over my latest significant accomplishment. Meanwhile, the essential oils were wearing off. I hadn't taken any since just before I went up because I figured they weren't necessary anymore and I'd just take them the next time I had to take a test or audition for a play. Oh my goodness! The more that Lavender and Chamomile wore off, the more it looked like a miracle that I'd been able to jump at all, as I was looking back at my pictures and watching my DVD. I don't know, maybe it was just the stuff wearing off, maybe it was the aftershock, maybe it was both, since I was now more able to feel it. I guess that was all part of taking a flying leap.

I thought once I'd landed safely on the ground and returned home unharmed, there was nothing more to it than just the memory. Boy, was I wrong! The rush lasted over 24 hours, and I had school the next day. I had the sun-of-a-gunnest time getting to sleep, and not necessarily in a bad way. It was like Christmas night after I'd opened all my presents and gotten everything I wanted, only on a higher scale. I got 4 hours of sleep, having had one extra glass of wine just to get my heart rate down, and I woke up more ready to hop out of bed than I usually am after a full 8. It was very interesting taking note of the different phases I was going through after my high adventure. Sunday, I landed with Joe at about 2:00pm, and Monday, right around 4:40pm, I started to notice this immense calm, like the calm after a storm. I thought when the rush went, so would my energy but that wasn't so. I walked to Lassen Hall, and then to the bus stop with unbelievable ease. The rush was over (or was it?), but the natural high kept going. Over the next day, I bounced between calm and rush, and these 3 days have been very emotional for me, but not as if I was recalling a nightmare, not even close! This wasn't terror, this was overwhelming awe that I had taken such a big step. Last night, I don't even know what time I finally drifted off – in tears – after pouring my heart out on paper and writing a personal monologue I hope to use in the near future.

This morning, I woke up feeling very out of sorts. I don't know if I wasn't feeling well, or if I was just feeling very drained. The gentleman who served my coffee on campus this morning said I had probably been over-adrenalized. I agree. That jump took a lot out of me, but nothing that can't be replaced: my focus, my energy, my train of thought. I'm not surprised after all I've been through recently. Nothing bad, though. Even good things can be overwhelming. However, I honestly believe this jump has given me more than it could ever take. My leap of faith took only what I could get back and gave me what no one can take away.

Maybe the jump alone would have brought on this wash of emotions; maybe it was also the fact that I'd shared a milestone of Joe's as well: his 1,000^th skydive jump (how many people have a first jump like that?), and maybe a seminar I attended, introducing a semester-long college program at Disneyland or Walt Disneyworld the day after I'd soared on top of the world had also played a part in this intensive week. Maybe it was such awe over how much God has blessed me in such a short time. I'd just taken midterms (and still have one left in Acting Study 1 – no studying necessary ;) ), went to a Renaissance fair last Saturday dressed up as Elizabeth Swann, and then Sunday I had my skydiving. The day after that was the introduction to the Disney's College Program. Honestly, I feel like I'm living a dream, where I just have to voice a wish and I'll get it. I still have yet to apply for the Disney College program, but it is certainly on my list of things to do. May I glorify God, and may He bless many through me.

Ammended October 28, 2007

Good heavens, I feel like with that leap I took a week ago, I got a time-released dose of adrenaline. Every time I look at my pictures or watch my video, every time I tell someone about my experience...