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skybytch

I went home today...

By skybytch, in The Bonfire

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skybytch    273

skybytch
It was a beautiful day in Southern California; sunny and pretty warm considering it's January. I woke up in a good mood and feeling fine. After doing some errands around the house, I asked my son to give me a ride out to the drop zone. He didn't mind too much cuz he wanted to stop by the school and see if he'd lost enough weight to make his first AFF jump. We arrived and went directly to the loft to pick up my freshly assembled and packed rig.
Grabbed a Spectre 170 demo from Square One and finally found someone to pack it for me (thanks Brenda!!). While that was happening we wandered down to the school and put the kid on the scale. Only four more pounds to go! He's not eating much for the next week; he'll be doing his Level I next Sunday :)My rig was packed but the butterflies were all out of formation in my stomach. I ignored them and went to see Dan at manifest. 15 minute call for SkyVan 13. Okay.... deep breaths now... it's been 6 months since I've left a plane and I only did one then... it's really been well over a year and a half since I've jumped the way I want to.
Put on my freefly suit and grabbed the rest of my shit. Checked the rig, put it on and headed down to the loading area. Nerves! Saw Paul (Quade) down there, we'd be on the same load, he was doing a solo too. Touched all my handles repeatedly.
A quick high five with my son as the Van came around to the loading area. Loaded up and started smiling as we taxied down the runway. A quick turn around and we're off! My grin got bigger as we left the ground.....
Managed to keep the butterflies under control until we got to altitude. Put on my goggles and helmet, checked my handles and straps and alti... nothin' to do now but wait. The tail gate opened and the first group was ready to go.
And before I knew it, it was my turn. I whooped and hollered as I left the plane - a couple tight front loops off the tail and I was home again! Went head down for a few, did a stand up, spun around on my ass, tracked a bit, then checked the alti and slowed down to wait for pull time. The ProTrack yelled and I waved off and dumped.
A nice slow smooth opening was what I wanted, and that's what I got. Whipped out a couple 360's and whooped and hollered!
Set up for the student circle and did a nice standup way out in the middle. It was all I could do to restrain my shouts of joy. I'm back! Damn, it feels good! :)One year ago right now I was in the hospital in extreme pain recovering from having three vertebrae fused. Today I got to go home. Can you say PermaGrin?!?!?
pull and flare,
lisa

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Brokeneagle    0

Brokeneagle
Go, Lisa!! Congratulations!!... may the Great Grin From Within (which, of course, starts in your belly button, then wraps around your face a few times) stay with you the rest of your days! (HUG) Glad you made it back from your serious injury- if I might be so bold, bytch, I've got a couple-three questions for ya: 1. How many jumps did you have before your injury? and 2. Was your injury from a misjudged landing? I'm recovering from breaking the crap out of my "good" leg- wear a leg brace full time on the other; am beginning to get apprehensive about landing again-- 3. I wanted to know if your nervousness was centered around the landing or the jump itself- I'm never afraid in freefall, but canopy flying, hmmmm.... :(
Brokeneagle.
I'm really very gentle, no matter what my kung-fu teacher says...

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skybytch    273

skybytch
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1. How many jumps did you have before your injury?

I had 770-ish jumps when my back started hurting - actually it wasn't my back that hurt, it was my right butt cheek and down my leg to my toes (sciatica) - the kind of pain I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Being the fool that I am, I kept jumping until it started hurting in freefall (early May 2000). I was off work from late May-late August; had steroid injections into my back that worked "okay" - didn't take the pain away but lessened it a bit.
Being the fool that I am, I jumped three times in October. By T-giving 2000 I was in intense pain again and back off work. Had L4/L5/S1 fused on Jan. 4, 2001, was back to work part time by April, full time in May. Did one jump in June but it was too soon; I was just too weak still.
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2. Was your injury from a misjudged landing?

Weeellll... kinda. More like 60+ misjudged landings! I think the original damage was done on a tandem landing back in '95; a nasty butt strike that I felt from fingertips to toes to the top of my head. Made it worse by flying a canopy that I wasn't quite good enough to land well 60-odd times.
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3. I wanted to know if your nervousness was centered around the landing or the jump itself

It was just general nerves from not jumping for so long. Actually I was less scared than I thought I'd be; once I got out to the dz I was a lot better off than I was sitting at home thinking about it. I was worried about landing, but surprisingly enough once I was under canopy the landing fear was gone - I knew the landing would be just fine because I was flying a canopy that I'm confident under.
pull and flare,
lisa

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freaksister    0

freaksister
SWEEET!!
I am so happy for you, girl!! I remember a year ago when you got hurt (amazing its been that long, I can't believe it!! scary)
and its good to know you're back. We were all rooting for you so hard back then, we couldn't literally feel your pain but we really prayed (or whatever other people do, you know, they were thinking HARD!!) for you.
It is good to have you back, and good to know everyone still gets the butterflies after a layoff. You conquered them better than I would have!! :))
Blue Ones,
Sis
Fear not your death - fear having not really lived. Willie Sinsel, KS.

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BadDog    0

BadDog
I can relate to that. I was off for a year and a half between numbers 38 and 39 due to an injury. Strange thing is I had nerves on each of the first 38 jumps to some extent (more on the first few jumps, but always a little regardless) and I kept expecting the nerves to kick in when it was time for 39, but they never came (over 600 now and still none). It was very strange.
CorporateLawyerDave aka BadDog

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skybytch    273

skybytch
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Was the entire thing set up JUST to get Hyper-John or did he just draw the wrong slot?

It wasn't set up just to get John... but he was "chosen" (by someone other than me, I swear!) about a week before. Turned out to be good timing too; he's doing his 700th jump today.
It was pretty hilarious, wasn't it? I just love putting those on! Wish the PA would've worked, my voice is hurtin' pretty bad this morning. Can't wait to get the video dubbed from digital to VHS so I can show my parents just how stupid I really am ;)
pull and flare,
lisa

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freeflir29    0

freeflir29
Congrats Lisa...nice to hear your back. Now, if I can get some decent weather around here I'll actually jump again. It's been 2 weeks already!!!!
PS...If your butt cheek ever starts hurting again let me know...I'll make it feel all better.....:D
"I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"
Clay

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