Sweet Ride

I spent a windy Saturday recently interviewing my first subject for a super fun section in the new alumni magazine.It's intended to serve as the eye catching, opening spread in the magazine. A double-truck of something, well, out of the ordinary.

Scott Elmer, a graduate of the college's department of civil and environmental engineering, certainly fit the bill. He's spent the last 10 years testing his nerves and his stomach jumping from planes. Yes, he's a city engineer and public works director by day and a skydiver on most weekends. He's taken some 4,000 jumps and competed in skydiving competitions both nationally and internationally.

Needless to say, we had an awesome time! I even had my first trip in the cockpit of an airplane. Let me tell you, it was the perfect day for this trip. The sky was so clear I could see to the coast of Galveston. I even got to wear the headset!!!

The sweetest part of this ride, though, was near the end. Unlike your typical flight, the pilot and I came back much lighter than when we left. I watched Scott and 13 other skydivers leap from the hatch and free fall to the ground. Maybe next time I'll join them :)