Watch out - the person sat next to you could be a skydiver

[Newbie 0]

as i was walking down the aisle of the train this morning for the usual commute to work, something about this guys backpack catches my eye. I look down and see it's not a rig, which is what it looked like as i was moving down, but one of those made to look like a rig back packs, complete with reserve flap.
I was pretty shocked, looking down and seeing it had some sort of World Accuracy wording, and struck up a conversation with the guy. Now normally, as most Londoners can atest to, talking to complete strangers on public transport is almost enough for you to be deemed to warrant psychological examination, but here i was chatting with the guy who was probably 20 years my senior, and a native Pole who had been here for 9 years.
We talked about all sorts, obviously mainly jumping related, but not entirely. It was fantastic really, and for the first time, talking to a stranger on public transport in *GASP* London was not only natural, but genuinely interesting and engaging. I suddenly realised what it meant when, in my post a while back asking why people wear pin jewlerry, some of you had said so let other skydivers know you skydive - well, now i see why.

I'm sure any avid sportsman or woman would have probably struck up a conversation with a stranger if they had recognised some sort of apparel from the shared sport, but, when we were talking about just having fun in the air and the feeling and sensation of freefall, both on the same level saying it's like nothing else out there - that's something i like to think is what's so unique about this sport and what makes it such a special thing, not just in what we can do up there, but in how it makes us down here.

So watch out! You never know if that guy/girl sitting across from you on the bus, looking like Mr or Mrs Jones, is really, like you, looking out the window up to the heavens, PRAYING to someone -ANYone, for a break in the weather so they can hit the dz and get a taste of that sweet sweet cool air!

Have a good weekend all!

"Skydiving is a door"
Happythoughts

[PLFXpert 0]

That's awesome.

Yea, I don't often wear my skydiving pin necklace or T-shirts or anything except to the DZ b/c I'm generally dressed for work or othewise. But, I've been looking into designing my own skydiving jewelry; not to be sold to others, just for myself. I have this big sterling silver ring that covers half my finger that I got in Jamaica. It's my FAVORITE and I wear it almost every day. I thought about having a ring like tha made w/ a full-size skydiving pin as the front-side (sterling silver) and well, it's kinda hard to explain. I haven't seen any full-size sterling silver pins, only the mini ones, so I'll probably have to have that made, too.

That's my only idea I'm pursing so far...it would be the skydivers jewelry for the business person I need to be business at work to make my $$$ so I can jump my ass off on the weekends.

I'm very proud to be a skydiver, but generally I don't advertise myself, or anything else about myself to anyone. I kinda like that *mysterious* feeling...walking next to people that look at me and think one thing, and yet have NO IDEA what else there is to me...I LOVE that. I love knowing something they don't know, doing something they don't do, etc. It's GREAT!

But I also think it's cool to recognize other skydivers by their attire/closing pin, etc. It's happened to me once before, too, and it's pretty cool.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[Unutsch 0]

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I'm very proud to be a skydiver, but generally I don't advertise myself, or anything else about myself to anyone. I kinda like that *mysterious* feeling...walking next to people that look at me and think one thing, and yet have NO IDEA what else there is to me...I LOVE that. I love knowing something they don't know, doing something they don't do, etc. It's GREAT!

But I also think it's cool to recognize other skydivers by their attire/closing pin, etc. It's happened to me once before, too, and it's pretty cool.

you're absolutely right about that: I also think that this gives me some sort of an advantage (don't want to sound like i'm an highflying asshole, at least not all the time ) towards them...

I never recognized someone as a skydiver in every day life - maybe 'cause Slovenia is so small, and I can pretty much say, that I know everyone who's seriously involved in the sport (like making more then 50 jumps per year not only on his/her home DZ, but also elsewhere)

but: is it possible, that in the USofA, you would be knowing someone for some time, but wouldn't realize that he is a skydiver too, 'cause you would be both jumping at different DZs, never bumping into each-other? (just another stupid question from me... hehe)

Check out the site of the Fallen Angels FreeflY Organisation:
http://www.padliangeli.org

[PLFXpert 0]

Yup, it's entirely posssible. The only advertising, I do, however, is I have a skydiving license plate holder. It just says "Live large. Skydive" No stickers or anything else. I like when other cars on the Highway with skydiving stickers honk at me, but other than that, like I said, I love being mysterious

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

Newbie, you talked to a stranger on London transport..
Yay verily, thou art truly a freak! I'm surprised the commuters didn't lynch you on the spot!

Wanna know if someone in your company is a skydiver? Its easy, they will tell you sooner or later...

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[PLFXpert 0]

Geez...I'd be getting brutally beaten, then, if I went to London, b/c I'm known for striking up converstaion with just about anyone anywhere

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[Zenister 0]

thats cool!

I was in Camp Doha earlier this year, one of the many godless contractors wandering amidst the soldiers in the PX saw the team i was working with there, so i wandered over and had some pizza. Was talking to thier platoon leader when his tent mate sat down, looked at me and said "holy shit! your a skydiver.!" (my closing pin was out of my t-shirt.)
Lt i was talking to rolls his eyes and says "oh shit, here we go again, now i've got TWO of you to put up with here not able to jump...geeeezz"

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[Stacy 0]

carie-

there is a guy insebastian who designs mroe formal skydivign jewelry in 14-18 ct gold and sterling silver. He was at rantoul and I believe has an ad in this months parachutist. I got a gold closing pin necklace from him that has a diamond in it, thta's totally wearable to work. apparently my job frowns upon hemp necklaces.

[AggieDave 6]

I've got a friend who's a jewlery, he's got some really really nice stuff about to come out, no one has ever seen skydiving stuff this nice before, I promise. I've seen a lot of nice stuff before, but his stuff is light years ahead of the game.

Look for his ads to be in Parachutist in Jan or Feb, there'll probably be adverts on this site too. I can't way, I've already placed my order (he makes the same stuff with anodized aluminum, too, so ppl like me, who don't wear gold, except for my Aggie Ring, can have something cool).

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[PLFXpert 0]

Yea, I saw that ad....

At the risk of sounding snobby, I'm picky about my jewelry...I don't have a LOT, so to speak, but the few things I have are really unique and get a lot of compliments. I'm really looking for something along those lines Most of the jewelry I have, I picked up in another country, so it's really nice but a LOT less expensive.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[cpoxon 0]

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as i was walking down the aisle of the train this morning for the usual commute to work, something about this guys backpack catches my eye. I look down and see it's not a rig, which is what it looked like as i was moving down, but one of those made to look like a rig back packs, complete with reserve flap.

I saw a guy on the Jubilee line (between Finchley Road and Baker Street) last week wearing US Nationals t-shirt from Deland (when and how often have the Nationals been held at Deland)

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Now normally, as most Londoners can atest to, talking to complete strangers on public transport is almost enough for you to be deemed to warrant psychological examination,

Indeed! It's against the law to talk to stangers on the tube unless your foreign or a tourist so I didn'. Humbug.

[Newbie 0]

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Geez...I'd be getting brutally beaten, then, if I went to London, b/c I'm known for striking up converstaion with just about anyone anywhere

PLF you'd be fine - tourists and non Londoners can get away with it. It's only us locals that have to look away whenever someone casts a glance in our general direction

"Skydiving is a door"
Happythoughts

[Newbie 0]

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as i was walking down the aisle of the train this morning for the usual commute to work, something about this guys backpack catches my eye. I look down and see it's not a rig, which is what it looked like as i was moving down, but one of those made to look like a rig back packs, complete with reserve flap.

I saw a guy on the Jubilee line (between Finchley Road and Baker Street) last week wearing US Nationals t-shirt from Deland (when and how often have the Nationals been held at Deland)

Quote

Now normally, as most Londoners can atest to, talking to complete strangers on public transport is almost enough for you to be deemed to warrant psychological examination,

Indeed! It's against the law to talk to stangers on the tube unless your foreign or a tourist so I didn'. Humbug.

Craig break the mould! It doesn't have to be like this! Next time you see someone with a skysurf board struggling to get into the sardine tin at Holborn, make sure you say hi! I'm going to endeavour to do the same.

"Skydiving is a door"
Happythoughts

[SkyDolphin 0]

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At the risk of sounding snobby, I'm picky about my jewelry...I don't have a LOT, so to speak, but the few things I have are really unique and get a lot of compliments.

That's the way I am. I make almost all of the jewelry I wear. You should check out Square One. They have some really nice sterling silver miniature closing pins that make nice, delicate, feminine necklaces. I have several that I made in different colors, with differnt types of stones and for different occasions.

Rhonda