Going Flying

My little sister and I planned a trip to the temple, it was glorious being there and what made it even better was that my handsome priesthood holder was able to go with and baptize myself, my sister, and a couple of her friends. I thoroughly enjoyed the spirit that I felt while there participating in work for the dead and enjoying that spirit with my potential future companion.

Afterwards, Izac's dad was at their airplane hanger in Rigby and Izac got this idea that his dad should take me for a ride in an aerobatic airplane... I was way excited, I had only flown commercial airlines a couple of times, nothing like a small two seater aerobatic airplane. The thought of this made me a little nervous. Before making our way to the hanger, we stopped by my house to change out of our nice clothes. Izac encouraged me to wear light, cooler clothes to go flying in.

Butterflies started to twitch rapidly in my stomach as we watched Izac's dad do a few touch-and-go's before he took me up with him. This was serious stuff, Izac even called my dad and asked his permission for me to go up in the airplane. I think while I put the emergency parachute on my back the butterflies had babies and were quickly multiplying in my stomach. They started even more rapidly reproducing when Izac helped me get strapped in the 50 point harness. I was given careful instructions on what to do and what not to do, I tried really hard not to show it but I was scared out of my mind!

I had a head set on and I was able to communicate with Izac's dad who navigated from the back seat of the plane, which meant I was seated directly in front of him. The take off wasn't too bad and I managed to let a few of my butterflies escape as I enjoyed the nice scenery and weather from 1,000 feet above ground. He took me over Ririe Reservoir, I could really tell how high the water had been on the canyon walls, the water was a murky blue-green and actually looked inviting on this warm summer day.

Then came the moment where he was going to show me some aerobatics, those butterflies that had previously flown away swiftly returned. We first did a barrel roll and it didn't even really feel like I moved at all, it was a weird feeling. He then did a loop-de-loop, before I knew it the earth was directly over my head and my heart was pounding loud, I wondered if Izac's dad could hear it. The loop-de loop was some what familiar because I had been on various roller coasters that have them. We did another barrel roll and then a maneuver called a hammer head. To complete the hammer head maneuver, the smaller two seater air craft went straight up in the air and then we started free falling (well to me it felt like free falling) I completely lost my stomach as we careened towards the earth, me holding on to my 50 point harness for dear life. Before we hit the ground he pulled the plane back level in the sky (in reality we probably didn't even come close to the ground but it sure felt like it). I was beginning to feel the effect of so many G forces on my body, and most especially my stomach but I wasn't quite ready to call it quits. He then did what he called a Cuban eight; he flipped the plane over and we flew upside down for a brief while before we went back to normal then he turned the plane the to the other left and we flew upside down again. I was getting direction disoriented and couldn't tell if I was right side up or down. It was far better and more thrilling than any roller coaster that I had ever been on and my stomach was really feeling the effects. The butterflies were getting angry at having moved so much and I told him that I was rapidly approaching my limit. He said that we would head back, I was immensely relieved because I definitely wasn't feeling normal.

On the way back he offered to let me fly the plane. He explained that flying it can help overcome some sickness but I couldn't do it, it felt like to much liability to be placed in my hands. Thinking back I wish I would have taken the opportunity but at the time I was WAY to scared! We made it back safely and I didn't have to use my parachute (thank goodness). I was so sick and dizzy that I didn't think I could even drive. Earth did not feel stable, and everything around me was moving it felt. I had to rest a bit in the hanger, definitely not feeling good enough to navigate a vehicle on the road. I felt accomplished for being able to stomach that many maneuvers in the air but I did feel somewhat foolish for not feeling well after.

Finally, my collection of angry butterflies settled down somewhat and I was able to head back home where I took more time to rest, trying to get the rest of my bearings back. It was Ryker's (my cousin who passed away) birthday, and that evening we lit off some fireworks in his memory. Ryker had loved fireworks, almost anytime he came to visit he brought some to light off. He did crazy things with them too. One time he talked my dad into holding a lit fire cracker in his hand while it went off. It still hurt my heart to think of the short lives they lived, they died so young, I couldn't help but think of the fireworks he and Emma were probably lighting all over in Heaven. :)




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