On a serious note...

[skymama 37]

I haven't written a letter to my kids, but I've thought about it often. It's just one of those things that keeps getting pushed aside in the daily rush of life.
But, I had an interesting conversation with my son the other day. At one point in the conversation, I asked him if I was like the other moms at school. He laughed and said, "noooooooo!" That made me a little worried, so I asked if that was a good thing or a bad thing, and he said it was a good thing. Then I asked if the skydiving made me seem a little crazy. He replied, "no, because you were scared to skydive, but you did it anyway because it was something you wanted to try. The other moms, they don't do stuff because they are scared, and that means they aren't living their lives."
My son is 10 years old, and I was quite taken by his comments. So many people have told me that I am selfish and irresponsible for skydiving because it is so dangerous, and it takes time away from being with the kids. But, here my son sees it as a good thing! I still have guilty thoughts in the back of my head sometimes, but I had a really big sigh of relief after that conversation.
Andrea
The brave may not live forever, but the timid may not live at all.

[Iflyme 0]

I was just watching "Good Stuff on DVD" with my kids, and mentioned to them that Patrick and Rob died skydiving, and my 9 year old daughter said "at least they died doing something they loved" ...
Pammi, I think your idea is a good one ... too many times people die suddenly, and I'm sure there are many things they would have like to have said if they could have known their time was up.

[skybytch 273]

What a smart kid! Obviously you're raising him right Andrea if he already knows that at 10! pull and flare,
lisa
--
What would Scooby Doo?

[skymedic 0]

I fight with this everytime I go up in an airplane....my daughter lives with her mother...and I only see her on holidays and summer break....so with me not being around her very much I am afraid that if I die she will later be angry because I was not there for her......but...I know that I would not be the person I am today with out skydiving and cancer....and they have both helped me with my number one in my life...Lauren Rose....
She does think I kick butt though....she braggs that her Dad is a Firefighter/Paramedic/ and a skydiver too.....can't beat it...
I got the hero thing down....and the adventerous thing down too....
after the 9/11 thing...she actualy called me...at a whopping 8 yrs old to just say thank you for taking care of people....shocked me....when people in my own community rarely did that...here my #1 fan says thanks.....really cool kid she is....
marc
"...a mind stretched with new idea's will never regain its shape"

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

Quote

With my luck I'll have the first total mal caused by a Power Ranger! LOL

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You shouldn't put a knife in the toaster - but you're an adult now !!!

[DickMcMahon 0]

Skymedic's situation above is a bit like mine. Have been through the
cancer scare, diabetes, and a lot of other near-miss death situations.
It seems like it has only been until skydiving found its way into my life
that I have really FOUND life ... why is that? That's strange, isn't it?
Here we are engaging in a high-risk sport, and finding "life" in it!
Maybe is has something to do with "living on the edge". To see life
and the beauty of it, you have to step back from it a little. Wow, this
is getting pretty deep!
Well, your posts here did prompt me to hide a note for my family
letting them know I love 'em. Thanks, Dick
P.S.: My wife makes some good beer-bread. Would that be
acceptable at the dropzone instead of beer when I do my 100th?
http://www.dickmcmahon.com

[bbarnhouse 0]

I hate this......ok I am in stage IIIb recurrent as we speak. The first time was pure hell and this is even worse! I skydive because it brings me joy that is inexplicable. It allows a freedom from all of the trappings of our conventional daily lives. In the sky, we can let go of everything and just BE. Each time we make a jump we accept the risk that it is dangerous, but what I would offer is that sometimes living in the safety of our fears is the most dangerous thing that we can do.
When I told some of my friends at the DZ in AZ where I train often of my illness, they actually stood in the packing tent and cried. This from some of the "coolest" people in the sport took me aback, but it made me come to understand that this sport has given me a place to belong without aires, without judgement, without pretense. One of diversity of background, and circumstances,one where there is the common bond that keeps us all connected no matter where we are.......I salute the divine within all of us..
B
It only takes a little pixie dust......