"Wind Beneath My Wings"

"Once you have experienced the freedom of flight, you will forever more walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward; for there you have been, there you long to return." -da Vinci

I used to sit awestruck as I'd drive around the point of the mountain from Utah County into Salt Lake County and see the gliders floating and moving with the wind. It always looked so graceful, peaceful, transcendent, buoyant...communal to me. And so I always wanted to experience the freedom of flight without the shelter of an aircraft..to feel one with the sky and float above land and live to tell about it! It seems like I was pregnant forever and now that the child bearing chapter has officially closed...opportunity knocks for all my crazy adventures! What a good sport Curt is with these crazy dreams I have...and yes, we do have hefty life insurance...

Apparently it is a known fact that Torrey Pines (La Jolla) is THE PLACE...the hang/paragliding MECCA in all the world. The conditions are almost always perfect, the scenery superb, the method legendary. I learned this from a woman we were going to 'fly' with in Seattle back in March when I first attempted this paragliding adventure. After getting to the top of the mountain, which was a process...we weren't able to jump because of unfavorable wind conditions. BUMMER. Anyway, this woman there told me that the best place in all the world for gliding is Torrey Pines. Basically our backyard...well, not really, but 30 minutes away. So, I decided that for my 35th birthday, that's what I would do. (And these are photos that either Curt took of me...or that I took of the scenery while floating in the sky).

In the hang/paragliding community, it is said that "if you haven't flown Torrey Pines, you won't go to heaven." I have been parasailing in Hawaii, hot air ballooning in Park City, repelling off a mountain in Malibu, and now paragliding in La Jolla. And....according to the legend, I'm going to heaven! Neener, neener, neener. Life is good! A dream fulfilled.

My mom was in town, so she took the jump off the mountainside right after me...with all my kids, Curt, and Kelly (her hubby) watching in the wings. I was so proud of her---guess I know where I get my adventurous streak! It was a tandem paragliding flight--and the 'head pilot' was actually the owner of the gliderport; he has been doing this for 20 years and I couldn't have been in any better hands. So, I'm actually a 'certified pilot' for the next 30 days...I have a license to fly the skies...at least with a glider.

We flew over Blacks Beach (which is a nudie beach I figured out after staring for a few seconds...and no, couldn't see stark details at my altitude). I must have looked downward too long because I felt like I was going to loose my cookies and hurl all over the nudies beneath! What a fun surprise that would have been--it's a bird...nope...a little nastier! I composed myself and instead enjoyed the scenery at eye level for a bit. We flew past all the spectacular estates lining La Jolla Shores and had a front seat view of the insides of these palaces made of glass. I'm sure they don't appreciate the paragliding intruders daily.

I looked for sharks in the ocean, and we flew over where the US Open will be in a couple weeks. I could see the cracks and crevices that flow from the cliffs in La Jolla...and I appreciate more now the spectacular beauty of the shoreline from that vantage point. We truly live in an amazing city! Wish you were there for the thrill, Tallie! (Can't wait to hear about yours). Another dream down...what's next? I think sailing. Maybe that will have to be for my 36th birthday. Happy Birthday 35th to...ME! (said humbly).



Just as soon as we came home, Curt, Vivie, me, Mom, and Kelly rushed off to OC to experience Sprinkles Cupcakes...made my tastebuds dance and do flip flops. Worth the drive, worth the wait. I'm addicted. Then we waited some more at Maggianos Little Italy--and my pants don't fit anymore. The lasagne portions are fit for a king--and his whole kingdom. We ate the bread just as fast as it came, and the appetizer sampler was to die for! Some of my family has been touting Maggianos forever and I have to agree--best I've tasted outside of Italy. The purging will have to start tomorrow as I have more face-stuffing to do tonight with my leftover lasagne and I still have one more dark chocolate cupcake from the dozen we brought home that I have to experience...kitchen's calling.