The Blue Angels in the Sky

Today was the day the Blue Angels flew oh-so-high, and oh-so-low, over Annapolis, in celebration of Commissioning Week at the Naval Academy. It takes my breath away, literally, every time. I actually stop breathing for some seconds. It was a perfect spring day, the sun was out, yet not too hot. When they shot straight up in the air, then flipped upside down, and drilled straight back toward the Earth, the chills broke out all over me to the point that the hair grew a little bit on my legs (am I the only one that happens to?). 

When they go into synchronized barrel rolls and stay within about a foot of each other as they blast past, I throw up a little in my mouth. Where do these pilots get the courage for that kind of behavior? More importantly, where do they get the stomach for it? I mean, I love a good roller coaster that loops around, but this is completely different. I'm thinking the G-force is more intense on the planes.

I'm even wondering about the practicing process. What's it like that very first time that they tell you, "Okay, you are going to fly upside down for a while, and there will be another plane right side up, directly underneath you, and a couple of others very close to you on either side, and you need to buzz a bridge at the same time. You okay with that?" Sure! No problem! Easy as pie! No room for error on that one. I need a Xanax thinking about it.

I am like a little kid, oohing and ahhing, terrified and exhilarated. I could watch it all day.