mfrese 0 #1 December 23, 2003 I got to jump with a hero on Sunday. Walk out to talk to my second tandem student of the day. She's about 5'2", 100 pounds, and scared shitless (that's what she said, and the look in her eyes bore that out). I start with my usual line of questions/shtick to calm her down ("What scares you about the skydive? No, it's NOT going to feel like you're falling", etc.), and it's starting to work, she seems a little reassured. Get her into a jumpsuit, start putting on her harness, ask her where she's from ("Germany"), what she does ("Air Force"), what she's doing in Germany ("Just got back from Iraq")...so of course, like an idiot, I ask her what she was doing in Iraq, and she replies totally deadpan: "Getting shot at, mostly". I thanked her for being a hero, to me and most of the people in this country ("Nah, I was just doing my job".). I asked her if I was embarassing her ("Yeah, it's no big deal, but thanks".) Then, I reassured her that I couldn't guarantee we wouldn't have a malfunction, an aircraft problem, or some other unforeseeable event, but I could absolutely guarantee that no one was going to be shooting at us, which produced the first smile I saw from her that day. The skydive goes great...she calms down right off the step, geeks the camera for the entire skydive, cusses her fool head off during most of the canopy ride, while insisting that we keep spiraling even though it's making her dizzy. After we land, she sits down for about 5 minutes to get her breath back. She finally thanks me for the jump, gives me shit about backlooping her out of the plane (at the request of her boyfriend, another hero just back from Iraq), and then tells me it was one of the greatest things she's ever done. Usually, that's when I feel like a million bucks after a tandem, feeling like I got the chance to change someones life, or at least their outlook on it for a while. This time, I felt like a big pussy. So, next time you're feeling like you're pretty hot shit because of what you do in this sport, think about Aimee...all 5'2", 100 pounds of her, who thinks getting shot at is just part of her job. To all of you who have served or are serving in the armed forces of the US, thank you. Jmpnkramer, thanks for posting the Person of the Year article, but I think, as usual, the media didn't quite get it right. My Hero of the Year: the American Soldier.Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luv2Fall 0 #2 December 23, 2003 Amen, amen....thank you for posting this......restores my faith. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #3 December 23, 2003 Amen to that. All those that serve or have served, you have my gratitude.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyyhi 0 #4 December 23, 2003 That was beautiful . . .it made me cry. Yep, I think you got it right. . .they deserve our gratitude. . .________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jen1129 0 #5 December 23, 2003 Wow. What a great story. I agree, we can't thank them enough. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveNFlorida 0 #6 December 23, 2003 QuoteThen, I reassured her that I couldn't guarantee we wouldn't have a malfunction, an aircraft problem, or some other unforeseeable event, but I could absolutely guarantee that no one was going to be shooting at us, which produced the first smile I saw from her that day. LOL! That's a great story. It is nice to hear from the tms & instructors that love their jobs. My jm, Mick, who I may not be on the best terms with right now, was so much fun! I had the best time through AFF, and it was all thanks to his jokes and encouragement. Some students to stay:) You guys are heros, too, you keep the sport alive! :) The American Soldier is definitely a hero. They put their asses on the line fighting for what they believe will keep our freedom. Very commendable, indeed!! Angela. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyhi 24 #7 December 23, 2003 QuoteMy Hero of the Year: the American Soldier and Sailor, Airman, and Marine.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #8 December 23, 2003 Even Coasties! My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bshl 0 #10 December 23, 2003 Thanks, Mike. Kinda makes me feel better about being unappreciated when I got back from overseas. Here's to you and everybody else who appreciates the sacrifices of the real men and women of the armed forces... Blue skies and happy landings! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygazer 0 #11 December 23, 2003 Excellant...what a great story! Thanks for sharing it._______________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelel01 1 #12 December 23, 2003 That was beautiful. Seriously brought tears to my eyes. Kelly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
goose491 0 #13 December 23, 2003 Great story man. My Karma ran over my Dogma!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mfrese 0 #14 December 23, 2003 Geez, everyone starts getting all teary-eyed just 'cause I say I'm a big pussy. I don't always (in fact, very seldom) agree with the things my government does, but I've always tried to respect and honor the people who risk their lives to keep us safe. It has nothing to do with the Person of the Year thing, actually...it's more to do with this tiny woman who got embarassed when I tried to say thank you for risking her life...for me. Made me feel small indeed.Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kai2k1 0 #15 December 23, 2003 Right ON!! Thanks for posting this. There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydivexxl 0 #16 December 23, 2003 Helps quell the feeling of burnout, just a little, right mike! Blog Clicky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McDuck 0 #17 December 23, 2003 QuoteThat was beautiful. Seriously brought tears to my eyes. Kelly Hey! How come it's okay for you to cry when Ice calls himself a p-u-crooked letter-crooked letter-y, but it's not okay for me to get misty over that song? Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebazz1 2 #18 December 23, 2003 Mike you have a great nack of getting your feelings out in writing. Superb post. I also took a gentlman named Nicholas on leave from Iraq who is in the army on a tandem that same day (subsequently we had a cutaway on that jump - he can't wait for airborne he told me...) I thanked him profusely before the jump for doing what he also considered just his job. He too was a bit embarrased by my praise. He has been in several gun fights already. His frustration was evident by his stories and his facial expressions. Still it put things into perpective. I may jump out of planes, do tons of tandems, aff etc... but this guy has the real balls... not me. He did squeel just a tad when I chopped the main though Exellent post bro! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KawiZX900 0 #19 December 23, 2003 dude. I'm all misty an shit. Thats a good story, thanks fer sharin. big pussy. thats classic. Accelerate hard to get them looking, then slam on the fronts and rollright beside the car, hanging the back wheel at eye level for a few seconds. Guaranteed reaction- Dave Sonsky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vonSanta 0 #20 December 24, 2003 Yep, definitely a good story. Agree with it completely and it has been something I've given a thought more than once before. I sometimes wish that Americans would also recogize the Brits, Danes, Spaniards, Polacks and so forth. We've taken casualties too in a war that's very unpopular here. Could well cost our current government (which I voted for and support) the next election. Anyway, great story! Dinnae mean to hijack the thread. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #21 December 24, 2003 Awesome, my man!! I myself am a vet of the Gulf War and Bosnia. All of us appreciate the support we get. The only "family" I've found that comes close to the military family I was part of, is my skydiving family. You all ROCK! Heartfelt thanks from just another vet, who was just doing his job- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kmcguffee 0 #22 December 24, 2003 QuoteI sometimes wish that Americans would also recogize the Brits, Danes, Spaniards, Polacks and so forth. Hopefully, when we say we appreciate the soldiers we mean more than just US soldiers. They've all done an outstanding job. None could have done it without the others. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vonSanta 0 #23 December 24, 2003 Thanks man! A guy I studied with is there right now. Very nice fellow. Appreciate it and will stop this hijack attempt since the bloody pilots aren't cooperating. DOOR! Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #24 December 24, 2003 Quote Even Coasties! I think you may have gone too far with that one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swoopyswoop 0 #25 December 24, 2003 Show us how he squeeled sebbie when you chopped. Was it like a little girlie or like a two canopy out birdman squeel? "when I die, I want to go like my grandfather while im sleeping, not like the passengers riding in the car with me Swoopster A.S.S. #6 Future T.S.S holder Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
