I jumped out of a plane at 3,000 feet.

I would have been dead if it had not been for lucky circumstances.

I was 19 years old. A friend called me, asked me if I wanted to jump out of a plane that morning. They needed one more person to bring the cost down from $40 to $35.

We got there in the morning and were given minimal training. The parachute was to open naturally. We did not jump until sunset.

I was supposed to go in the #3 spot. The #2 spot chickened out so I jumped second. I just jumped, no thought about counting to 10 and if the chute did not open, I needed to pull the emergency cord. I just jumped.

3,000 feet is not far from the ground.

#3 parachute did not open. The guy counted, his emergency cord opened the second parachute in time, just in time.

Not knowing this drama, I enjoyed a beautiful sunset and when it came to guiding my parachute to the landing spot, every time I tried to steer, I drifted farther away. I was floating over trees and cacti, lots of rocks.

But I am here to tell the tale.