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| Mama and baby chick |
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view from porch |
DH and I spent this past weekend in the hill country at my daughter's place. It was her birthday and she was *thinking* about sky-diving on Sunday. I mentioned this in my previous post, and I have to admit, the idea of her jumping out of a plane kept me awake a few nights. She had thought about it (as had I in my youth), but never had an opportunity to seriously consider it. Since a few of her friends had decided to do it this weekend and since it was her birthday, she was considering it.
Well, she did do it... and it was grand.
Talking to them after, we got lots of different thoughts. My daughter was as much impressed (not sure impressed is the right word) with being crammed into such a small plane with other jumpers as she was with the jump itself. She was surprised with the force of the wind on her face in the free fall. I think she said her tandem partner said it was maybe 120-125 mph. Then when she was told to release her hands she was surprised that her arms flew out away from her at such force. Once the chute opened, they seemed to play around in the air a bit (at one point entering a cloud (which they didn't fall through as that was a no-no), but she was told to feel, smell, and taste it as they entered with the chute open.
When asked is she wanted to do it again, both she and one friend said it was an experience they couldn't quite describe and although they were both glad they did it, they felt no urge to repeat it. However, her other friend was hooked! She loved it and was ready to jump again right then and there - and plans to continue in the future. This friend's husband jumped also. He wasn't as taken with it as his wife. And he did mention (as my daughter did) that the force of the wind surprised him. He said that when they first jumped out, the wind was blowing so hard up his nose that he found it hard to breathe... and felt like he was under water. He opened his mouth to catch his breath, but then couldn't close it.
All in all, it was a beautiful day and I found it really neat watching them all jump in their colorful chutes. My grand daughter and I were very impressed. She is too young at 13 to jump now and apparently if you are over 65, you have to have a doctor's OK... so she and I are hoping to do it at a later date. So... I guess maybe I do have something on my bucket list. (BTW, DH is not considering it. I did ask if maybe he might want to do it for our 70th birthday this summer?? Apparently not.)
This next picture is us at a restaurant celebrating the birthday!
*new post on Mulberry days*
Nope, still not convinced. Glad it was a wonderful birthday celebration.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joanne. It was. And my reaction to the sky-diving surprised even me. I thought that dream had long passed.
ReplyDeleteEven though I'm 72, I don't need a doctor's permission because I have an expert license to skydive, having made more than 4,000 of them. I guess they figure I know what I'm doing. Congratulations to your daughter, and I was just like the friend who couldn't wait to do it again. It happens to some of us. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan, after 4000 jumps, I would definitely think that you know what you're doing. And I don't know if I will get a chance to do it myself... but just watching them certainly restored my desire to give it a try. BTW, I had sent my daughter your post on your first jump when she was thinking about it.
Deletewhat an interesting parachute, not for me though, looks like a grand time
ReplyDeleteLinda, all the parachutes were different colors. They looked so pretty up there in the blue sky.
DeleteYou look nice and safe in the last picture. I think that’s where I would like to be: foursquare on terra firma
ReplyDelete.
We took the last picture outside at an Italian restaurant in the Hill country. A lady at the next table generously asked if she could take a pic for us...
DeleteWow. Just...wow. Huge congratulations to her for doing it. It boggles my mind that people actually enjoy this (ha), and that you're considering it. LOL. It's not something I ever want to do -- heck, I don't even want to get in an airplane again!
ReplyDeleteIf you do go ahead and jump, we'll expect to see pics here! :-)
You know, Kim, I was worried about her doing this... and I prayed about it. And the funny thing is... when I woke up Sunday morning, I was no longer afraid . I knew she would be alright.
DeleteAnd as for flying in planes, I too get a bit nervous at take-off and landings, but once I'm up there... I find the awareness that we're flying absolutely astounding and I always thank God for the experience of flight. Perhaps that's a little like I felt when I watched the girls sky-dive? What a marvelous world!
This is not something I have on my bucket list at all, no siree Bob. So I asked my hubby if he would like to do it for his next birthday and his reply was a definite No Thanks with an emphatic shake of the head. So that's that. But good for you, you go for it.
ReplyDeleteDiana
Diana, have you ever watched them sky-dive? I think after going with the girls, seeing the training video, and then watching them make the jump - made a difference. But again... it may never happen. We'll see.
DeleteI must admit I don't see the purpose of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. I tried the zipline on my cruise, got geared up, got to the top block and was hooked up...all I had to do was step down and let go. Didn't happen. I looked down and freaked out...the guy had to unhook me. I just couldn't do it. There are other things on the bucket but anything to with heights is pretty much not on the list.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Many people apparently feel that way about heights. But there's something very appealing about "flight". Do you ever dream about being able to fly?
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