As journalists, we get to see and do a lot of different things throughout our career.
Some of it is nothing to write home about, but sometimes, you luck out and create memories that last a lifetime.
I started my reporter career in Timmins, working for both the Timmins Times and The Daily Press. I spent about 10 years there, and I met a lot of great people and participated in a lot of fun events.
Two come to mind.
In one summer, I took my career both to new heights and then sunk to a new low.
Let me explain.
By new heights, I mean I went skydiving. It wasn’t a tandem jump, either. I remember it quite vividly.
The morning was spent learning the safety procedures and proper form for skydiving.
In the afternoon, we took to the skies in a small plane. It was me and a few other brave individuals.
At this particular skydiving school, it wasn’t a tandem jump where first-time skydivers are tethered to a professional. No, we were by ourselves from start to finish.
When we reached the proper altitude, the instructor opened the door and waved me over. The idea was, I had to climb out of the plane and hang from the strut that went from the wing of the plane to the body.
At one point, I remember looking down, the earth far, far below me, my feet dangling. It was scary, I’m not going to lie.
According to proper etiquette, you’re supposed to arch your back. You’ve seen it on television or in promotional photos, I’m sure.
Well, I did the opposite. I curled basically into a ball.
Luckily, we didn’t have to pull the chord for the parachute to open. Instead, the instructor, who is still in the plane, has the guide shoot in her hand and throws it out after you let go. This is what opens the actual parachute.
It was when my parachute opened, and I floated down to the landing zone that I really appreciated what I went through to get to that point. It was calming, aside from the voice of the instructors in the headphones inside the helmet I was wearing. They were guiding me down, and it was truly a breathtaking experience.
A few weeks later, I had the opportunity to go SCUBA diving.
This course was a week in duration, learning the skills needed to become a certified SCUBA diver.
We practised in a lake where you could not see your own hand in front of your face.
The final test, though, was in a lake so clear, you could see for quite a distance underwater.
It was surreal to me, being able to breathe underwater.
We all passed the certification, but unfortunately, I did not keep up with it.
During this pandemic, when the majority of the news focuses on COVID-19 and other doom and gloom, it’s nice to think back to those days.
