Next Stop, Lompoc, CA To See My Sister and Family

I'm back!!!

So since my days in San Francisco with Jocelyn and Natalie, I headed out again and drove South to Lompoc, CA and my older Sister Lauren and her family! I hadn't seen them since my dad's 70th birthday extravaganza back in July and I had yet to visit them in Cali since they moved there 5 years ago!

When I arrived, I was amazed at their beautiful brand new home that they purchased! It sits in a quiet community in Lompoc and the backyard looks out on a wildlife sanctuary with lots of vegetation and different species including my arch enemy... RACCOONS! But that's a story for another time!!! Lets just say I have been previously harassed by that same species multiple times including a skiing trip to Whistler years ago!!! Luckily I did not have any additional encounters!!!

While in Lompoc I noticed a sign at the local Lompoc Airport that advertised SKY-DIVING!!! After talking with my sister who has witnessed them falling from the sky from her backyard, I decided to do some additional research. A short phone call later and I was set to jump two days later at 9:00am in the morning! I have been wanting to do this for the past 10 years but never went through with it! This was my shot and to do it with my own family present and on a trip such as this, made it too impossible to pass up! I almost didn't get the chance because the fog and winds in Lompoc were horrible the day before I was to take the plunge and they had to cancel most of that days jumps! However after waking early Sunday morning and discovering a bright blue sky and no visible fog, I knew this would be my day and that it was meant to happen! We arrived at the airport where I "LITERALLY" signed my life, unborn children and soul away in the case of an 'unfortunate' accident, which was a little off-putting but this is customary if you want to do something that human beings aren't typically capable of doing on their own!!!

After a brief 15 minute video and instructions from the staff, I was ready to go! I "SUITED UP" ~ Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother) and set off in a very stripped-down single engine plane with just enough room for the pilot, my Tandem-Jump partner, My Videographer Jumper and myself!!! Upon take off I could immediately see the beauty that is the California coastline! It was gorgeous, blue skies, green lush ground below us and a coastline where I could see all of the beautiful sand and beaches that only California could call its own! I could see islands in the distance and even the missile silos at the local Air Force base there in Lompoc!

Upon reaching 13,000 feet, we prepped for launch and before I knew it, I was sitting on the ledge of the open door of the plane with my feet curled under the carriage of the plane and my videographer hanging on the outside of the plane positioning himself to get the shot of me exiting the plane! Before I could take a deep breathe, we were off, somersaulting in the air about 3 times before beginning what would be about 60 seconds of free fall before my chute would open! My first thought during the free fall stage was sheer "WTF" followed by a slight disorientation and then began what I could only explain as a fit of "screaming like a little school girl" as I hurdled toward the earth at over 120 mph! After my "screaming" fit, I then leveled off and became a little bit more level-headed and thats when the fun began! The view was amazing and my videographer also then came up alongside us to film my trip! After lots of poses and hand signals, high fives, peace signs, and thumbs up, we then pulled our parachute and went from over 120mph to about 10mph in the matter of a second or two!

My guide then handed the reigns over to me and it was here where I then took control of the parachute and was doing some twists and turns almost like a roller coaster in its motion! After about 5-6 minutes it was time to land and I pulled it off with out a hitch! Coming in fast at first, then slowing and landing butt first in the soft ground of the Landing Area! After "Dropping-Butt" I did a short follow up interview and sank to the ground in sheer thankfulness that I could greet it so softly and without incident!

What an experience! The staff and instructors were amazing and they did a really great job documenting my jump and putting it to music in a video! I chose U2's Beautiful Day to document the flight up and then Tom Petty's Learning to Fly for the journey down! I would recommend this experience to anyone and everyone! It is definitely a risk, but for me it was well worth it and now I can cross it off my life's "bucket list!"

Besides sky-diving, we also hit up Universal Studios with my Sister and Nieces! I had been once before but was barely able to hit a few of the many attractions, rides and shows that were available! This time, we made a plan and stuck to it and did every single thing that Universal Studios had to offer! It was an amazing time and bonding experience with my family and I am oh-so-thankful to my sister for this birthday gift!

After all of these activities and very little sleep over the course of the weekend, my Brother-in-law and oldest Niece returned from trips of their own and we spent the last day of my time in Lompoc sharing stories and catching up! This was the perfect way start my trip off with a bang and I can't wait for the next chapter!

Important Notables From This Part Of The Trip:

1. Lompoc, CA is known as the "City Of Arts And Flowers!" It is a very artistic community with lots of local talent and exhibits, etc!

2. There is a city in California, called "Madonna" though I cannot say if it has anything to actually do with good ol' "MADGE!!!???"

3. Lompoc is the location where they shoot off military equipment as well as public/private sector satellites, etc! The silos are quite a site to be seen, though you can only do so from afar!