Things happen quickly at Orange. One minute you feel like you're never going to get up in the air, and the next you notice that your name is on the white board for the next load.  It was so exciting!

Nick and Lambert discussed the exit from the plane with me and what I would be doing during the jump. Nick geared me up, and we got on the plane. On the climb to altitude, we talked about the jump. They told me to practice. I went over the jump in my head. The exit: Check front, check back, deep breath, Ready, Set, Arch! I second-guessed myself...Is it supposed to be "Ready, Set, Arch?" or should it be "Ready, Set, Go?"

The dive plan: Arch, Circle of Awareness, Practice Pulls, Circle of Awareness, Leg Extensions, Lock On, Wave Off, Pull, Arch - Count to 3. Will I remember all of this when I'm falling toward the earth at 120 miles an hour?

What if my chute doesn't open? I reviewed the emergency procedures in my head. Visualizing the photographs used during the training class, I went over my response to various malfunctions.

Then, I was out of time. Our videographer moved into place. Nick took the front position outside the plane. I climbed out next to him. As I was climbing out, he grabbed the grip on my leg. Lambert moved into place.

Deep breath...Check front - Nick nodded and said "Okay." Big smile

Check back - Lambert nodded and said "Okay." Big Smile

Deep breath...Ready, set, arch

I let go of the plane and sort of flung myself out into the relative wind. It took about two or three seconds before we were stable.

Check altitude. Check with the left guy - Thumbs up. Check with the right guy - Nick gave me a signal to straighten my legs. I adjusted my legs.

Three practice touches - these were much harder than they were when I was tandem. Having someone holding on to my arms was strange.

Check altitude. Leg extensions (I did three of four of these)

Lock on - Was supposed to be at 6,000, but I think I started at about 7,000. Wave off at 5,500 and PULL! Arch and count.

I did it! I remembered everything I was supposed to remember! I looked up at my chute wondering what sort of malfunction I would encounter. I was surprised by what I saw...