One of the happiest memories I have yet had and one of the most terrifying moments I ever experienced was the day my daughter went on her first skydive with me. I was going to make my 300th skydive and it would be my daughter’s first. It was a day I looked forward to for so long. Having the chance to finally share that special feeling with my girl flying through the sky. We talked about the day she would finally get to do a tandem all the time. I was never fearful that it was possible either of us could lose our life doing the one thing I loved so much and she loved being a part of. You see I had faith in my training, my equipment, and my fellow skydivers. In the event a castophorie would happen, I knew what to do. Having experienced a bad canopy opening, resulting in me having to cut away and pull my reserve parachute.
Once we had left the safety of the confines of the Cessna airplane, I aimed where I needed to fly. I see my daughter falling through the sky attached to her instructor. It was my job to track or fly up to my daughter and the tandem instructor to come alongside them. Watching her falling to the ground was the first time I had ever been truly terrified of skydiving. Oh my God please let her chute open ok I prayed quietly. Having to put my complete trust and confidence in those that packed her chute, her instructor the skills necessary to let her have a safe skydive had shaken me to the core, for just a second. I close in fast on them and grasp her hand, Smiling for the camera and seeing the excitement in her eyes was a memory embedded in my core that I will never forget. Pure and utter happiness At our break-off altitude I turn and track away for them to have a clear opening. I continue to fall from a distance watching and waiting for their chute to open safely. I see the puff of fabric opening into the wind with bright colors of nylon unfolding strategically slowing their descent, I exhale a sigh of relief knowing she would be just fine. I look down at my altimeter reading two thousand five hundred feet, it was my time to pull my chute
After we land I hurried my way through the distance between us, I see my daughter and the huge smile on her face. Feeling the adrenaline surging through every pour in her skin I couldn’t help but smile and pull her into my embrace hugging my girl as if I hadn’t seen her in years. That was one of the happiest and most scary days of my life.
It all boils down to one simple thing, having trust and faith in knowing everything will be ok.
Like that day I need to trust everything in my life has led me up to where I am today. Every heartbreak, every failure, every frustration, every feeling of defeat was just to bring me where I am today. Feeling the happiest I’ve been in a very long time knowing there would be many more happy days ahead trusting and having faith everything finds a way.
Embarking on this new journey leaving behind the life I knew. Putting all my focus and time into painting and creating has given my life purpose. Seeing the smiles these sweet babies bring whether an elder is holding this little piece of heaven or a collector is admiring and appreciating the work that goes into it. Reborning is not just playing with dolls, It’s healing hearts one baby at a time.
Cheers my friends,
Ginger Kelly