We tested out the chute to make sure we could steer and flare it.  Then, Lambert adjusted my leg straps so I was in more of a sitting position - much better!  With his supervision, I practiced steering the canopy and we talked about the landing pattern and the three turning points. 

When we were close to the ground, it felt like we were coming in faster than my first jump.  Lambert told me to pick up my legs.  I did, but this landing was very different than my first landing - we slid about 10 feet!  As I stood up, my legs started trembling. I was having mixed emotions.  With the surge of adrenaline, my head was flooded with thoughts.  That was so cool!  I can't wait to do it again! What a great skydive!  I pulled the ripcord!  I kept track of altitude!  I steered the canopy and we didn't run into anything.  Woo hoo!

Another part of my brain was yelling...ouch...ouch...OUCH!  I limped over to Kim.  When I told her that I hurt myself, she looked at my leg/butt and said she didn't even think I was going to need a Band-Aid - it wasn't that bad.  When we got to the hangar, she took a closer look.  Oh my... The JM got some peroxide and bandages.  "I told you to wear a jumpsuit!"  He did.  Lesson learned - listen to the JM. All the guys in the hangar stopped to check out my "first skydiving injury".  I was missing some skin at the top of my thigh and the bottom of my right butt cheek.  Other jumpers showed me their scars.  It was sort of a rite of passage.

After I got cleaned up, my JM invited us to have a beer.  Behind the drop zone, they have a little open-air bar.  It reminded me the bars at the beach.   My JM told us how he met his girlfriend - it was a cute story.  I'll have to ask him if I can edit this to include the story here. 

When I got home, I sent an email to Ned expressing a few things.  First of all, I accepted full responsibility for my injury.  I didn't want the JM to get in trouble for my poor judgment.  Clearly, it was my fault.  I also mentioned how bummed I was because I didn't get to take advantage of the discounted tandem. He sent me a note and said to come back when I was healed and he'd honor the price!