deep in flight

What can be said about the experience of flying? Flying has always been something I've wanted to do: to be caught up in a strong wind and carried around (gently, not cyclonically) to see the world from a new perspective, a new dizzying height. It's something I yearn for in a romantic fairy tale kind of way, I have the experience mapped out in my head, I know what it will feel like and I will be able to whisper my destination to the clouds as I wave to the people below.

With warnings of dislocated shoulders, closed in shoes and neck pain, I suited up - strapped my pants to my shoes, plugged my ears, helmeted my head. It was time. 

Walking into the chamber ready to fly, to float, to be at peace finally. The door opened and as I let myself fall I began to think... being suspended in a tube of wind... This wasn't flying no matter how they tried to sell it to you, and as for being dangerous? Not even remotely.

Still, it was exhilarating, floating there. Lacking control, at the whims of the winds. I can see how you could get addicted to it though, and how the desire to learn tricks could see you spending hours inside the tube, bouncing off the walls trying to maintain some balance. It's more like a trampoline than a sky dive, but hey, I'm not too cool for a trampoline.