Just an old snapshot

[TomAiello 26]

It’s been trimmed at an irregular angle, by who or for what reason I don’t know. It’s been stuck between the pages of my book for the past week or so, as I still can’t look at it without my vision blurring. I’m pretty sure my father took it. It’s just an old snapshot.

The picture shows a young BASE jumper. Short brown hair sticks almost straight up, and he has several days of stubble on his face. He’s lying in a hospital bed, his left hand on the control box he’s used to push himself into an upright position. The sheets and hospital gown hide, mercifully, the surgical incisions, sutures, and appliances attached to his body. He looks almost healthy. He is smiling, a brave sort of smile that I know masks the fact that he is in intense physical pain.

On his left is an older (both in age and experience) jumper. He is leaning over the bed, and facing the camera, with his right hand in a classic thumbs up gesture. A battered hat hides his dark, thinning hair, except for the unruly bits that struggle to escape over his ears. He smiles crookedly at the camera, and his eyes twinkle.

The jumper on the right side of the bed is both older and younger. The youngest of the three, he is by far the most experienced as a jumper. His right hand, too, forms a thumbs up, as he leans over the bed, and faces the camera. His shoulder length blonde hair is a bit dishevelled, and his expression is one of forced cheer. His eyes are wide and calm, and his smile thin, a strange departure from his usual infectious grin and manic energy. I recall that he hated hospitals, and seemed nervous to visit one.

I remember that they had stopped at the hospital even though they were late for their flight home. Despite their initial declaration that they could only stay a few minutes, they visited for more than half an hour. I don’t know if they missed their flight or not, but I doubt it--they always seemed to be able to pull off anything. Aside from family, and one other jumper, they were the only ones who made it to that out of the way hospital for a visit.

I miss you, my friends.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[Dd0g 0]

I stayed up way too late last night going through old videos. I had just planned to find a couple of segments, but somehow I ended up watching more and more. Mostly I smiled, but it is hard not to feel the scars being rubbed raw as I watch those two hamming it up. It seemed like it would never end, like it was an important time and that good things would certainly come of it. We all had each other, and there were places to go and things to do.

Now, it seems we mostly get together to attend funerals.

Peace,

D-d0g

+~+~+~+~
But this, surely, was the glory that no spirits, canine or human, had ever clearly seen, the light that never was on land or sea, and yet is glimpsed by the quickened mind everywhere.

[TomAiello 26]

Several people have asked to see the actual photo. Here's a digital snap of the photo.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[base587 0]

Thanks for sharing Tom.

[base587 0]

Doug

I'd also like to thank you for sharing so many personal memories with all of us at the memorial.

You have my utmost respect.

Peace brother

[QuickDraw 0]

The only one i got wrong in that picture was you Tom (even though you said it was taken by your father).

Have i missed something ? i thought you had a clean sheet ?

-- Hope you don't die. --

I'm fucking winning

[Faber 0]

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i thought you had a clean sheet ?

(sorry Tom)

Im inpressed that Tom evecan walk(i do belive the xrays are out there)

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[TomAiello 26]

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The only one i got wrong in that picture was you Tom (even though you said it was taken by your father).

Have i missed something ? i thought you had a clean sheet ?

I've been injured three times BASE jumping. Once fairly minor as far as BASE injuries go (a broken fibula), once very major (the one pictured--Xrays are on the Vertical Visions web site somewhere), and once in between (several months of down time, but no surgery).

I'd guess my rate of injury (approximately once every 350 jumps) is on the high side of average, but still within statistical norms. I knew of three people who had exceeded 500 jumps without injury up until a short time ago. Now two of them remain. The highest rate of injury that I am personally familiar with was one jumper unlucky enough to suffer two hospital stays within his first fifty or so jumps.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[skreamer 1]

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The highest rate of injury that I am personally familiar with was one jumper unlucky enough to suffer two hospital stays within his first fifty or so jumps.

Were these injuries really down to bad luck or were they a result of poor decisions attributed to inexperience? Did that person continue jumping after the second injury?

I heard the story from Don of your incident at the bridge, goddamn that must've been one painful recovery!

Will

[Faber 0]

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one jumper unlucky enough to suffer two hospital stays within his first fifty or so jumps.

WOW... and i thourght i were unlucky having one at my jump # 30 whith surgery(14 days from now and its one year since..),and im still working part time,cant run over 100m,but now i have 66jumpsand im not planing to get injuryed more...

Stay safe
Stefan Faber