Wednesday, Oct. 9th, 2011

It's 7:45 AM on a beautiful Sunday morning in Maui.  Amy has convinced me to go paragliding off of the side of a volcano named Haleakala "house of the sun".  We arrive after an hour drive to meet the ProFlyght instructors and get checked in.  A large van is loaded up with equipment and about seven solo flyers.  Amy and I are the only student pilots today and we meet the guys who we will be flying tandem with.  My pilot's name is Dexter Clearwater.  When I tell him I am nervous (aka scared to death) he says something, I forget what, that makes me believe this is no more adventurous than a simple zipline.  His voice is so calm and soothing that I decide to go with it.  I can zipline.

We load into the van and make our way up and up and up a very narrow, winding road - almost like switchbacks.  My ears pop as we ascend.  It takes about twenty minutes to get to the top and as the pilots unload equipment, Amy and I sign our waivers.  I decide not to read it, especially all the words in BOLD CAPS.  Papers signed, we make our way out onto a grassy area on the side of this mountain.  Dexter is setting up the glider and all the chords that attach it to our harness.  He explains what he is doing and what I need to do once we're ready to go.  Once he is done giving me instructions, he asks if I have any questions.  I ask him to repeat the instructions again, which he does in that calm, soothing voice.

I hear my name and look over at Amy, who snaps my picture with the little disposable camera I brought.  I left it in the van thinking I am not even going to try to use my hands to get a camera out while flying but she hands it to me so I stick it in my sweatshirt pocket. She has a big smile on her face.  Her and her big ideas.

Dexter explains the wind pattern to me and says we are waiting for the sun to heat up the air in the valley just enough for it to rise.  We can tell by the wind socks that are hung on both sides of the field when this happens.  He estimates ten minutes.  Stomach flip flops.

Dexter helps me with my helmet then my harness.  Locked and loaded.  He tells me to stand right in front of him facing the valley so I do.  I have told myself no matter what happens to do exactly as this man tells me to.  He points out that the wind is shifting.  He says "fifteen seconds".  Gulp.

Then he says start walking fast and I take two big steps and feel a heavy pull of resistance backwards.  At this moment he says "run, run!".  So I run as hard as I can and after about ten steps I realize my legs are still running but there is no longer ground under my feet.  We're up!  Dexter has me sit back into the seat and hold onto the harness.  He reminds me not to touch any controls.  No problem.

Sudden silence.  We are at cloud level, part way up the back side of this volcano.  No wind in my face, we are going with it.  I didn't expect that.  My feet are dangling down into nothing but space thousands of feet above the ground.  For a small moment, I am overcome and get choked up.  Dexter asks if I am OK.  Perfect, I tell him.  Just overwhelmed and amazed.  He sits back and lets me have my moment then says to look to my left.  Amy has just taken flight and I can see her and her instructor Abai across the sky.  After a few minutes of just being up there, I take my camera out of my sweatshirt and take a picture of Amy's glider, one of the coastline in the distance, and one of the volcano.  Then I turn the camera to face me and snap one, hoping it gets Dexter and me.

Dexter points out Amy again, this time becauase they are doing a 'trick' called the death spiral or something.  They are spinning fast so that their harnesses twirl out, which makes them look like they are on that round swing ride at the fair.  Feet dangling below them.  He asks me if I would like to try it.  Ha, no thanks.  Very funny, though, Dex.  He says good, we can make the flight last longer so I sit back and enjoy the combination peace and rush of flying.

As we get near the ground, Dexter points out the tiny little flag we are aiming for.  Thank God he's steering.  He reminds me again what to do when we land - hit the ground running.  Next thing I know we land within about 4 feet of the flag, Amy and Abai right there waiting for us.  I look at my feet, I look around, I look up.  Dexter points out where we started - 3000 feet above.  I see the solo pilots gliding over the mountain in and out of the clouds.  The colors of the gliders dazzle in the morning sun, their shadows on the field at our feet.

Dexter asks me what I thought.  "One of the top ten peak experiences of my life."  He gives me a big bear hug and smiles.  And to think I almost didn't do this because I was afraid.  Thank you Amy for the nudge, thank you Dexter for your calm, calm voice and thank you God for that awesome view.