Black Lens - October 2021

Page 2
October 2021
www.blacklensnews.com
The Black Lens Spokane
ON MY MIND
CSM THOMAS
E WILLIAMS
THOUGHTS FROM THE EDITOR
I’m Out. I’m Proud. And I’m Sixty. Now What? -- Sky Diving.
By Sandra
Williams
I was told many, many years
ago by some of my older female
friends that turning sixty
marks a major milestone
in a woman’s life. At sixty, a
woman, particularly a Black
woman, comes into her own,
after a lifetime of taking
care of the needs of others,
her attention begins to turn
inwards, towards herself and
towards her own needs. Finally.
So, look out.
Well, I turned sixty last
month.
I had been planning for
years to celebrate my 60th
birthday by bringing together
my closest women friends
for a weekend retreat by the
ocean. To spend a few powerful
days sharing my life
with the women who have
had the greatest impact on
me being who I have become.
For years I had been looking
forward to sitting at
their feet and soaking up
their wisdom, and being
surrounded by the kind of
love that only women can
provide. But when I realized
that COVID-19 was not going
to be far enough in the
rear view mirror for me to
risk the health and well being
of the people that I love
the most in this world, I decided
that it was time for a
plan B.
For the most part I see myself
as a pretty brave person.
I am willing to take risks that
other people shy away from.
I am willing to step into situations that lead
other people to run in the opposite direction.
I am willing to stand toe to toe and eyeball to
eye ball with the things and the people that
scare me the most. I’ve always been proud of
that about myself.
But my Achilles Heel, my kryptonite so to
speak, is my fear of heights. Always has
been. Tall buildings. Roller Coasters. Even
driving across a bridge can leave my stomach
in knots and me feeling like a frightened
little child. I hate it!
So what better way to mark my 60th birthday,
to kick off the next chapter of my life
and signify my focus shifting inwards, than
to do a thing that terrifies me.
Skydiving.
When I was asked why I wanted to go skydiving,
my answer was simple. Because I’m
terrified. And I was. I can’t begin to describe
the fear. Even now, sitting safely in my recliner
chair, when I think of how it felt to
slide over to the open door, turn to say good
THE BLACK LENS NEWS
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bye to my daughter, and then feel us launch
into the air, free-falling towards the Earth, I
still have to take a few deep breaths.
I can’t believe I did it, but I did. Yay me!
Thank you to my incredibly brave daughter,
who is just as afraid of heights as I am, but
walked through her fear to jump with me
anyway. To my mom and my partner Patricia,
and my friends, Theresa, Terrie, Colin
and Dawn (who drove over from Seattle)
who came to cheer us on.
And a very special thank you to our Tandem
jumpers at SkyDive West Plains in Ritzville,
who were patient and kind and gentle, and
who made a really scary thing a whole lot
of fun too. If you’re interested in jumping,
they’re great. Here’s their website: skydivewestplains.com
and their phone number
509-838-JUMP (5867). Come on, if I can do
it, anybody can do it!
Now what? Well, I’m loving 60 so far and
I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to
do for my 70th. Hmmm. Enjoy the photos!