Observations of a News Junkie

“Cheryl, you come home right now,” my mom yelled, but this time it wasn’t because supper was getting cold.

Like most kids, I often had to be called to the table for dinner. But this time I was three kilometers in the air, staring at the ground, which was slightly obscured by a fluffy cloud.

My hands were curled tightly around the edges of the plane’s doorway, but a tap on my shoulder reminded me I had to let go. I moved my death grip to the front of my suit, but managed to release a few fingers long enough to wave at a camera pointed in my direction.

My helmet and goggles were in place, and I was securely attached to Mile High Parachuting tandem instructor Jeff Dean.

“Right!” he shouted in my ear over the roar of the Cessna’s engine.

I placed my right foot onto a step on the wing strut.

“Left!”

My left knee went over the edge of the plane and I sat back on my heel.

Allan “Turtle” Lancaster, the Mile High photographer and videographer, was hanging onto the edge of the wing support, waiting patiently.

“Ready – set – go!”

I didn’t quite reach the ready stage when we were going. I had time to take a breath and then I was falling into nothing.

Read the rest of the story here.

Standing in front of the little yellow Cessna that would take me to 10,000 feet.

Sheri rocks out on her way down.

Sheri poses with Jeff Dean on the ground.

About half a second away from leaving the plane ... see how eager I look?

The free fall was my favourite part of the whole experience.

The landing was smooth - much more comfortable than I had expected.

Here’s a video I made of photos and clips, courtesy of Mile High Parachuting and my co-workers who came to watch and document the experience for me. Enjoy!