I am not a skydiver.

[Muenkel 0]

I guess the best laid plans are made to be broken. As some of you know, I was to take my AFF at Skydive Space Center in Titusville, Florida. Here is what happened:
Weds, May 1st: Arrive in Florida, totally psyched about beginning AFF.
Thurs, May 2nd: Report to Skydive Space Center at 9:00am for my classroom training. Was greeted with "What are you doing here?" I'm like "Umm, AFF!". "No, your classroom training is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:00pm, didn't anyone call you?" "No, noone called me". Inside, I am thinking "shit, I have to wait another day!". However I do have tunnel training in Orlando scheduled for 10:00pm that evening. So we do the paperwork and stupidly I prepay the whole AFF course (this saves me $200). Now I have Thursday off, so I go to the gym to work out. Work out for about an hour and a half. Afterwards, I go swimming. Report to the wind tunnel at 9:15pm. Got into the tunnel and it was a disaster! I could not control my right arm at all! There was numbness in my hand and forearm. The arm might as well belonged to someone else. The instructor asked me if I had dislocated my shoulder and as far as I knew, I hadn't. He suggests I rest it. Now my confidence is totally shaken. I am thinking to myself that if I cannot control myself in a wind tunnel, wtf would I do in freefall.
Fri., May 3rd: In the morning I call the dz and tell them what happened. They tell me to come to the classroom training at 1:00pm and discuss it with the instructor. Meanwhile, I have next to no mobility in my arm and my hand and forearm are completely numb. I report to the dz and speak with the instructor. He of course tells me, he will not go up with me with an injured arm. I agree, because I want to be safe and enjoy myself. He suggests I get medical attention first before I proceed. I agree.
I go to a medical clinic in Cocoa Beach. The dr. looks at me for about 90 seconds, tells me it is a muscle strain, gives me some muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs and tells me to rest it. He also instructs me not to skydive until the arm is completely healed...well duh! He suggests I get an MRI if the numbness does not go away within a week.
I'm thinking to myself, "alright, I'll rest it thru the weekend and perhaps begin AFF on Monday.". This was cool with SSC.
Sat., May 4th: At 6:00am I receive a phone call from my sister that my uncle (who has lived in an apartment in my parents home for the past 30 years) suffered a massive heart attack and was not expected to survive the day. I am freaking out. I call the airline and book the earliest flight (to Massachusetts), which was 5:45pm. I was begging God that I would make it in time. Fortunately, I did. In fact, I kept vigil at his bedside (he was completely conscious) until he passed away at 10:00am Weds, May 8th. I was given the great gift of being with him when he died. I know that sounds morbid, but I am truly thankful for that.
Now I am back at work, my hand is still numb and I have limited mobility in my arm. My doctor diagnosed it as a compressed nerve and he is confident it will heal with time.
My dilemma: I have now paid in full for my AFF at SSC in Florida. They will not give me a refund, but my tickets are good for anytime in the future. I have no more vacation time, so the earliest I could get back down there is November. Meanwhile, I miss out on the whole jumping season here in Massachusetts. I could take my AFF in Mass., but then I would be paying for it twice and flushing $1300 down the drain. I am stuck in student status!!! My mind is fried. The grief over the loss of my uncle is brutal (I have never had an immediate member of my family die before.) Maybe the skygods are telling me something?
Blue skies, Uncle Kenny.
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
Chris

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

Man, that sucks. Hope everything works out for ya. sorry to hear about your Uncle also.
When I grow up, I want to be a post whore

[Sebazz1 2]

Muenkel buddy I am sure you have had curvballs thrown at you through out life. It is just a curvball. It may sound corny but the whole "you can do whatever you want if you put your mind to it" is true. I recently went through AFF with a gentleman who was in his mid sixties. It took a looooooong time. Almost 30 jumps to get off student status. And I was the one saying this guy is not meant to be a skydiver. But I kept my mouth shut and he prooved all of us wrong!! Between windy days rainy days and repeat jumps this guy stcuk it out. Have faith Muenkel!! Try to fix up that arm and get back at it. If life were that easy it would be boring. The decision to do it this summer in Mass or wait till Florida in Nov? Tough call but only you know. I wish you the best of luck getting back into the sky. Stick to it!! I swear in the long run you will be gratefull .............
I preach patience to students all the time and they all come back thanking me. Be patient..........Sebazz........

[nacmacfeegle 0]

Sorry to hear about your loss.
Ummm....everything that Sebazz said...I also have a friend who took up jumping (static line round progression!!) very late in life, and he loves it. Spends his retirement jumping all over the place!
Stick with it bro, something will work out for you.
Cya
D

[Michele 1]

Dear Muenkel
I am so sorry to hear about your loss...it is always, always hard when someone passes away, and even harder when it's unexpected. I send you good thoughts, and big hugs.
Is there a way to call and explain the situation to the school administration? Or perhaps, if that is unsuccessful, call and speak to the DZO, and/or the owner (sometimes, they are one and the same person)? I have found that talking to someone, and telling them the entire situation sometimes helps them bend the policy. You also have put it here; perhaps they read DZ.com (and if they don't, they should! LOL). Let them know it is not about changing your mind, it was simply that circumstances beyond your control have prevented you from completing it with them. IT was not "I've changed my mind, I wasted everyone's time...", it was circumstances which you had no way of knowing, and no way to prevent.
Lastly, they skygods aren't telling you anything - think about it this way. What if you had been at the DZ, unable to be reached, not near a phone, and even if there was a phone there, no-one had the number. You wouldn't have gotten the call about your Uncle, and you may have missed being able to be with him as he passed.
It's a temporary delay, Muenkel, no more, no less. You are already a skydiver. Now, you just need to get your body well, and then get out there and fly.
Ciels and Pinks-
Michele
If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away...
~enya~

[Snowbird 0]

Muenkel, my condolences on your uncle. No it doesn't sound morbid to be glad you were there to the last with him. I wish I'd had that with my dad. (((HUGS)))
As for skydiving, is this an option? Will the Florida dz let you switch your payment over to regular jumps? If so, maybe you can do your AFF at home, and save the jumps in Florida for a fun trip later on. Then you don't lose the money, you have an awesome trip waiting for you this fall, and you can skydive all summer.
It will all work out, just never as expected.

[freeflir29 0]

That sucks!!! Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I would certainly call SSC and explain the whole story to them. I think they should give you a refund for a special hardship. If they don't I would be a little suprised and disappointed. You'll get there....just take your time and don't rush it.
"Here I come to save the BOOBIES!"

[PhreeZone 20]

Just think of it this way.... Take AFF at home, you get to know the locals you'd be jumping with anyways then. Then you have 1300 worth of jump tickets on account at SpaceCenter this winter when snow is on the ground at home.....
If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will....

[Keith 0]

Chris:
I'm *very* sorry for your loss. I'm glad you got to be there for your uncle though; I know what a powerful experience that is. And NO it's not morbid.
Snowbird:
Excellent idea on the AFF situtation.
Keith

[mountainman 0]

Sorry to hear about your loss, bro.
My initial thought was the same as Phree's. You should go ahead and do your AFF and whatnot there in Mass and then take a Christmas trip to SSC and shoot through your $1300 worth of jump tickets. Just think of it! I'm sorry again and hope that things get better for you FAST.
JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Muenkel,
My condolences to you and your family.....Life has its funny ways, but eventually the pieces of the puzzle will fall together and it will make sense to you.
Personally I am with Phree and MountainMan. Do your AFF in Mass and keep a lot of jumptickets in your account in Florida. What a great winter you will have.
Blue Skies
SkyDekker
"We cannot do great things, only small things with great love" Mother Theresa

[hooked 0]

I am so sorry about the loss of your Uncle. How special to be there with him.
That sucks about not being able to do AFF! I had been waiting to hear how it went for you. Definitely call the DZ and explain your hardship. If they can't refund you and you can afford to do AFF closer to home then go for that and use the credit for jumps in Florida on your next vacation! Head Up, Cheer Up, you will Skydive!!
J

[mountainman 0]

Ya mon. I forgot to mention that I was at SSC for a couple of days in February and they are great people. I really enjoyed jumping there and cannot wait to go back.
They seemed like pretty understanding people. Just think...$1300 of jump tickets for a week or two in the winter. *drool*
Chin up!
JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook.

[hooked 0]

I forgot to say......
You Are a Skydiver!!!!! You've jumped before and Skydiving is in your heart!!
J

[Muenkel 0]

Thanks folks, you are the best! This is a really hard time for me. Not because I missed out on AFF, but because of the loss of my uncle.
Anyway, I called the dz and spoke with Mary, who is a complete sweety. She thought it would be possible to convert my credit into jump tickets, but I needed to speak with the owners, Greg or Patty Nardi on Tuesday.
If this happens, I may be pursuing AFF sooner than I thought...provided my shoulder heals.
Thanks again folks.
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
Chris

[Dumpster 0]

Hey, bro-
Sorry about your loss - most sincerely-
Sounds the folks at the DZ will work with you- It would be cool to take your AFF and get your A/B maybe C ticket up north, then in the dead of winter when everyone is freezing, take a week off and jump your ass off !! This may have been meant to be-- You may really need that jumping vacation this winter!!! I know I'll envy you- I jump year -round in Wisconsin BUT - Cold is still cold~~!!!
Blue ones!!! Heal quick! Drink beer!!

[skymama 37]

Sorry to hear about your uncle, Chris. I already knew about your shoulder because I checked with your JM, who is one of my friends. See, I was thinking of you!
You are right about Mary being a sweetheart...she is one of the best things at SCC.
Andrea
I'm high as a kite
I just might
Stop and check you out.

[Skyrose7 0]

Sorry to hear about your loss, but I believe it is a blessing that you could be with him at the end.
As far as jumping goes---keep your head up! I can feel your frustration through the wires. All in good time, my friend...all in good time. The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP.

[Iflyme 0]

  Quote

They will not give me a refund

Sorry to hear all the bad news, man. But I really think it is a bull-shit business that won't give you a refund when you haven't taken delivery of their services. Note to self: never visit THAT dropzone...
Anyway, Muenkel, hang in there, and don't give up on skydiving! If you WANT to skydive, then you will find a way. The skygods are NOT telling you to stay outta the air. Getting up and jumping will help clear all the bad stuff out of your mind for a while.
"There's nothing new under the sun"

[lazerq3 0]

First off I too am sorry to hear bout your loss......I've never lost any imedaite family so I cantt say I know the feeling ..but I am sorryy..
And second I have to agree with Frank!!! I mean I can understand if you paid your $$ and then said "Well I just want to do it anymore" then yes its tuff luck for you.....but in a situation where you have no control over it being a bad shoulder..thats not your fault!!!! I think under those conditions ESPECAILLY with a Doc's orders NOT to jump they should make an exception.....but I guess that would be cool if they can change it to regular jumps!!!! or maybe even a good down payment on a RIG from them !! Anyway good luck with what ever you choose!
jason

[DENGOPHER 0]

sorry to hear about your uncle.. you and your family are in our prayers.... don't worry their will always be blue a sky for you to skydive when your arm is better...so in the mean time get better so you can take the classes.... good luck...
just jump!!!!
gopher

[Donna 0]

I'm so sorry to hear about your uncle.
IMO Titusville should refund your money. Did you even do the classroom part? Was the wind tunnel set up seperately on your own or part of your package with Titusville? If you did the ground school and if they gave you the tunnel time then they should deduct those 2 parts and refund the rest. If you did the tunnel on your own and you didn't even do the classroom part then they should really refund the whole amount. It wasn't as if you changed your mind. Your injury and your family emergency were beyond your control. Its not as if you live around the corner, never mind the same state, so it's not a simple matter of just doing it a few weeks later. By refunding your money they aren't really out anything and would be getting good publicity. It only seems fair to give it back in my mind. I would either call or e-mail the DZO directly and explain it all. I don't think you should even have to settle for them changing it to jump tickets. In this case you should be able to get it back so you can use it to do AFF up in here in MA. Titusville should pay attention to L&B and how much a good reputation means to this small community. Good luck!!
Hope to see you at Jumptown sometime!
Blue Skies,
D

[Tonto 1]

Sorry about your uncle. Cool that you got to share the sunset load with him.

Everything Sebazz said. Curveball. You're already part of our community - AFF is a mere formality.

Blues,

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[rehmwa 2]

Rough note, that one. If you can get jump credit, go for it. It might not be fair to not get a refund, but some DZs have rough policies.

The phys therapy is the huge thing here, once you're healed, there is a ton of stretching and weight exercises for the whole shoulder joint (good bood - The Seven Minute Rotator Cuff Solution). I know you have the pinched nerve and this is a R.C. book, but keeping that joint strong and tight will help in skydiving and all aspects. RC, Knees and flexibility in addition to strength are big players in jumping.
Sorry about your Uncle. {{vibes}}

stick it out and we'll see you in the sky

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants