Flying in a Helicopter

I opened my e-mail. In my inbox sat a message from Groupon for a discounted helicopter ride. I had no choice, this was a bucket list item and as such it was a done deal as soon as the email reached my inbox.

The first thing I did was smile. After that, I sent an Allstaff to everyone at my company and asked if anyone wanted to join. I received a lot of smiles from various coworkers and a thumbs up from two of the more eager two. I bought three tickets, called the pilot and added it to my calendar for later that week.

At the time, I was still living in Seattle so during our lunch break, Scott, Matt and I hoped in a car and drove to Boeing Field. We went to the indicated address and instantly saw a tiny yellow helicopter waiting for us. We signed some waivers and the pilot came out and led us onto the tarmac. It was as simple as that.

This adventure took place a little over a year ago. It was when I was just first starting to get momentum on my bucket list. It was these easy ones that eventually enabled me to leave the United States and move to Argentina. It was that little trick that moved me from the point where I talked about potential fun adventures to the point where I told other people about the very real adventures that I was actively doing.

The blades began to spin and the wind picked up. I remember the point where the lift generated from the blades finally reached the point where we left the ground. We stuck to the ground for no more than a second and pop, we were airborne.

It is an odd sensation to fly vertically. It is similar to going in a high speed elevator but with less stability.

As the small planes on the tarmac got smaller, my attention turned to I-5. This was exactly the moment I had not known that I wanted until it actually happened. I stared down at the road in perfect traffic reporter style.

We flew westbound and I was reminded of how beautiful the Pacific Northwest is. It is easy to get jaded when you live in an idyllic forest. We flew over my apartment, my alma mater (does that phrase still apply if you dropped out?) the Ballard Locks and downtown Seattle.

We loved every minute of it.

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Wondering why I am writing about old bucket list items? It is not because I am slowing down on my list. Far from it actually. February has been the most exciting month I have had since moving to California. It will also be my last month here. I have a secret project in the works that has required 8 flights in the last three weeks. More information to come :-)