"Is this my life now?"

    On Friday I got a text message from Jason that said "Do you want to go for a helicopter ride to the Serengheti this Sunday?" My response, of course, was "Oh hell yes!" I apologize for the language but it is what I said and I was that excited!! I did not realize it was going to be a photo shoot for Jason's company as well as a lodge that was chartering the helicopter but I am really glad it was. I got a call from Jason on Saturday while he was at work telling me that the helicopter ride was a photo shoot and we were leaving in a  couple of hours. Oh, I forgot, he also told me that I had to wear all white! I was pretty freaked out about all that! I am not a person that really enjoys getting their picture taken and especially if it is for a marketing campaign! I am very thankful for the "white" clothing package I had received from my mother last month after turning all my whites into yellows. So I put on all my whites and we were off to the airport.

Pictures from the our "intimate" photo shoot.

    When we got to the airport I was really excited. I had never been on a helicopter before let alone over the Serengheti. We all got in the helicopter and Jan started the engine. As I sat there looking around all I could think was "Is this my life now?". I was sitting in a helicopter surrounded by friends that I know one day will be like family. Jan was flying the helicopter with Jason seated next to him. I was in the back taking pictures of Hannah and laughing with Cecile. We were  all wearing white which made it seem even more surreal.
    We took off with one swift movement upward. I loved it! I loved take off and I loved every second of the flight. I did not think I could be any more excited until Jan tells me to look at him over the radio. I look up at Jan as he is giving me two thumbs up, which means Jason is now flying the helicopter!!! It got even better when Jan took back over for the landing. We were circling this amazingly beautiful crater. When I realized we were about to land on the edge I think my heart skipped a beat then it skipped another beat when Jan decided to have some fun and turn really sharply over it!
  When we found a place to land Jan dropped us off then took back off. We needed pictures of the helicopter so Jan got the chance to show off some by swooping down over us and flying off into the sunset. He also hovered right in front of us for awhile. It was all very amazing! Once Jan landed I informed him that if he did not get all the girls then he should!
   As soon as Jan landed we could see Masai in the distance running over the hills. Within 5 minutes we were surrounded by about 150 Masai. The day just got better!! I happen to love the Masai people and was absolutely thrilled they had shown up. The only problem was that we were supposed to be selling an intimate and romantic moment. We went ahead and took all the pictures and asked them to step back when they were too close. In the end we got some amazing pictures! It was not intimate or romantic at all but it was one of the best experiences of my life!! As a gift to the Masai we gave the elder the bottle of wine we had been sipping on for the shoot.

Video of us taking off

I guess the answer to the question "Is this my life now" is yes. Yes, this is Jason and I's life and we are determined to never take it for granite. Jason and I are living our lives to the fullest. We decided years ago to follow our dreams and move to Africa. We saved our money, we didn't go on a honeymoon, we weren't scared the unknown, we were only scared of not trying. It was good decision! We have been lucky but more than that we have been determined. We have also had unconditional support from our families. Most people thought we were crazy but from the beginning our parents told us to follow our dreams and that has made all the difference.