I did a tandem last night...

[livendive 8]

...with one of my instructors from college. He's 74 years old and "on the clock." He's written his obit, recorded a video for his wake that his friends are already loosely organizing, and just always wanted to jump out of an airplane. He's wheelchair-bound, with one leg already amputated and the other leg trying to beat the rest of him in escaping this world. Anyhow he had a blast in freefall trying to geek the camera and was pretty much speechless at the view from under canopy. There was a joking thread on here a few weeks back that mentioned hotties as a reason for being a TM. I know that thread was in jest, but thought I'd share this jump with you folks anyhow. This guy was the absolute polar opposite of being a "hottie", but still provided me with an awful good reason for keeping the rating.
Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[CrazyIvan 0]

Awesome.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[ladyskydiver 0]

Cool story.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[vdschoor 0]

That is a beautiful thing to do!

I remember a couple years back one of my friends at my old DZ in Belgium jumped with someone that was paralized from the chest down (he could use his arms) and we taped the guys legs to the instructors legs, so the instructor was in control of them.

I don't think I've ever seen a happier tandem passenger, it was such a special event. His whole family was there and stood there crying they were so happy when he landed with the biggest smile ever.

Great job, and thanks for sharing!

Iwan

[CrazyIvan 0]

Quote

he's living life to the fullest - even though preparing for the end.

There's no "end" just a transition, and what better way to do it by bringing with you a cool collection of experiences.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[Peej 0]

in reply to:
There's no "end" just a transition, and what better way to do it by bringing with you a cool collection of experiences.

Cool way to look at it man. I like that.

And a very, very cool story to begin with.

Forget hotties, being able to give ANYONE that kind of stoke is enough to make me wanna get a rating one day

Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky

[SkyPsycho 0]

Quote

...with one of my instructors from college. He's 74 years old and "on the clock." He's written his obit, recorded a video for his wake that his friends are already loosely organizing, and just always wanted to jump out of an airplane. He's wheelchair-bound, with one leg already amputated and the other leg trying to beat the rest of him in escaping this world. Anyhow he had a blast in freefall trying to geek the camera and was pretty much speechless at the view from under canopy. There was a joking thread on here a few weeks back that mentioned hotties as a reason for being a TM. I know that thread was in jest, but thought I'd share this jump with you folks anyhow. This guy was the absolute polar opposite of being a "hottie", but still provided me with an awful good reason for keeping the rating.
Blues,
Dave

hey dave

we did that a few years ago with a guy who was like 82. he had a blast. we had to pry his feet out the door because he was kind of stiff and didnt have much flexibility anymore. took so damn long that i told the pilot to roll the plane sideways and we just dropped out and fell down the underside of the wing to get him out the door. all worked out great, even got it in a newspaper article. its always nice doing a jump with someone like that.

_______________________________
HK MP5SD.........silence is golden

[aprilcat 0]

...with one of my instructors from college.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He must have been confident in the grades he gave you.

What a nice story! I'm sure you really fell good after that. Good stuff!!~~April

Camelot II, the Electric Boogaloo!

[livendive 8]

I found this thread when searching to see if I'd already posted about this jump I made last year. I think it was in June or so when I took Gail on a tandem but I just recentlly got this picture from the camera guy, Tod Hendricks.

Talk about gung-ho...Gail showed up at the DZ with a big *real* tattoo on her bicep of herself hanging under canopy, wheelchair and all. Her smile was definitely worth the price of admission.
Edit to add: As for the student referenced in the original post in this thread, he died about 9 months later. At the time of his death, most of the walls in his condo were covered with graffiti. It was well wishes and signatures from every family member and friend who visited him in his final years. Fortunately, mine was one of them. Along these lines, a couple months ago I learned of another of my tandem, umm, jumpers dieing. I can't really call him a student, because he had a few hundred jumps before he ever made a tandem. His health was failing, he knew he wouldn't ever jump solo again, so he traded his gear to the dzo in exchange for several tandem jumps. He only got three in before that was no longer viable, but they were a fun three. Being a tandem instructor has its benefits.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[Squeak 17]

Very cool Dave, you both look like you enjoyed it emensely

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[LisaH 0]

Awesome!! I'm speechless.

You've got a special slot waiting for you up there

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[livendive 8]

Quote

You've got a special slot waiting for you up there

You mean like short-bus special, don'cha?

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Very nice, Dave.

Now then I hope you locked the wheels so they weren't spinning in freefall.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.