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Waseca, MN (507) 837-6767

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The parachute opened and I turned 20

I have finally turned 20. Two decades. The big two-zero. Wooo. 
I don’t feel that old. Some days I feel like I’m still too young, as if I should still be in high school. Other days I feel as if I could just be done with college right now and I should start looking for my own place to live with a nice big grown-up job. 
Birthdays are weird for me. As much as I do understand why we celebrate people’s birthdays, I don’t understand why we celebrate their birthdays. I don’t do anything specific to deserve presents every year. If anything, we should be congratulating moms and dads for our birthdays. 
I sometimes feel bad when people give me presents because I think they felt they were expected to do so simply to conform to society’s rules and expectations. I explained my thoughts to my friend–he said birthdays are an excuse to appreciate a person. He claimed we don’t get to appreciate each other very often, so birthdays are something of a reminder.
I have never placed a lot of emphasis on birthdays; the last time I had a big birthday party and invited all my friends over and everything was in middle or elementary school. 
One birthday I remember fondly was quite a few years ago. I purposely woke up before my mom and dad had to leave for work so I could open my presents. I remember receiving two large Lego sets from my uncle. That day, my mom took my sister to work with her so I was able to have the whole day to myself, watching Disney channel and building Lego structures on the living room floor in my pajamas. That was a great birthday. 
But no birthday will top my eighteenth. Instead of going out to buy lottery tickets or gamble or do whatever most people do when they turn 18 and think they run the world, I went skydiving: I loved it. Since he’s not afraid of heights, my dad volunteered to go with me. Three generations of my family went out to the Waseca airport the day of my birthday. By chance, Karl, the guy I was strapped to as my tandem partner, had actually grown up with my mom so it was a nice little reunion for her and my grandparents. 
The plane ride up was surprisingly peaceful: The back of the small plane was nice and warm and the views were beautiful. We climbed to whatever height is needed to jump out of the plane. The side door opened and a rush of cold air flooded the plane. My dad went first, cool as a cucumber. That was when I started to get a little nervous as one does, but when I sat on the edge of the door with my feet dangling, it was such a rush. Karl leaned forward…we started rolling out of the plane and down toward the ground, and then…we kept turning. He had taken us into a flip! The flip was amazing, but I hadn’t had time to think about it as we were then free falling over the fields of Waseca and southern Minnesota. It was the best feeling and one that is quite indescribable. 
The parachute opened, Karl gave me the handles, and we had a little fun going around in circles before landing safely in the field at the airport. Now, I can’t wait to go again. 
This year it was too hot to go out and do anything adrenaline and fun filled. I thought about going hiking or cliff jumping, but again, it was too hot. I hope all of you were able to stay cool and hydrated this week. 
My Determination: “Never fear quarrels, but seek hazardous adventures.” ― Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers

 

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