Almost Lost My Hearing

Today I was starting to do dishes and my brother comes in and asks if I want to go skydiving. With suds all over my hands, I pondered this for about 2.5 seconds, asked if he was paying, and then of course said yes. It turned out this was my birthday present. YES!!!
The skydiving place is on the other side of the island at Dillingham Airfield called Pacific Skydiving. We had to wait for almost two hours to go up but I didn't really mind. For some reason though I never did get nervous. My tandom jumper's name was Bundy and it turned out I was #11,058 to jump with him. That's a lot of jumps. We loaded up into a small plane and as usual I was the only female. Seems to be my destiny. From the plane you can see all of the North Shore and if you're lucky you can also spot the other islands in the distance. Unlike the grid pattern you see in the air from the mainland, Hawaii's grids are very unkempt and uneven making for a very colorful and beautiful patchwork. The view was incredible since I could see two mountain ranges, pineapple and coffee fields and the endless blue ocean. Bundy cinched me in my harness good and tight, and I do mean good and TIGHT. I couldn't move anything almost to the point of pain. I thought by this time I would be nervous, especially when they opened the door, but no go. I was definitely ready to do this. My brother was right in front and when he dropped out, it almost looked like he got sucked out. I got to the edge and for a second I wasn't sure if I should just go for it or if Bundy would give me a push but the next thing I knew I was free-falling at about 180 feet per second. At first it was really cold and uncomfortable from the harness being so tight, but seconds later I realized my ears were seriously about to blow out of my head. It was the most intense pain I have ever experienced, like the pressure you get when they need to pop but ten times worse. Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore and was going to cry like a baby, (jk) the parachute opened and we jerked into an upright position and the pressure almost immediately lessened.
The view from up there is breathtaking. I couldn't get enough of it. Once the parachute opens though you don't have too much longer. Bundy let me do a few 360's and then we were inches above the ground. We landed in a standing position and I was instantly warm again. I think I would go again if I could do something about my ears, maybe ear plugs, but if I can't I'm not sure. At that speed it was an intense pain. They have been bothering me all day now. Not everyone has that though. This is one of the views I had. I think I will take up paragliding now.