Buddy Bash 2001 (65 years old!)

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

As some of you may have figured out, I am second generation DZ trash/instructor/pilot, etc. Anyway, last weekend a bunch of us met at my dad's (Buddy Blue D-597)place in Opelika for his 65th birthday. About 55 people showed up at the ranch for the fiesta; many of them old Cotton Belt Council competitors. We had a blast! Eat, drink, skydive was the modus operandi for the weekend. My wife and I drove down from North Carolina, Rixter Neeley came up from Mississippi with his wife (who I gave a tandem to on her 40th birthday Sunday), plus all the DZ locals made it over. I was very happy to meet several of the new guys from Auburn University. Christian and Mike were pretty damn cool and have brought freeflying to my dad's traditionally flat-flying DZ.
Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night are just a blur to me, but Sunday we all managed to drag-ass out of bed and head to the DZ. As usual, my dad worked me like a DOG! Hey, I haven't ever paid for a skydive there, so I guess I shouldn't bitch, but four tandems (me packing)later I was pretty damn smoked. Luckilly, I had enough energy left and there was enough daylight left to throw down some monster swoops. Unfortunately for me, my DZ brothers had not bush-hogged the swoop canals yet this season, so we were without water displacement. Anyway, my wife and I had a blast, then drank heavilly and laid down for the night.
If ever any of you happen to be rolling down I-85 between Montgomery, AL and Atlanta, stop by exit 38 in Tuskeegee and check my dad and those guys out; they are a riot.
I am very pleased to report that at age 65, my dad has nearly 10,000 jumps, still teaches FJCs and does tandems, flies when we can't find any young pilots, and still is ornery as a rodeo bull. I am pretty proud of him.
Chuck Blue
D-12501

[froggie 0]

WHoo heee! congrats to your dad! thats totally cool. Glad to see that hes still very active in the skydiving world! He rocks :)

Quote

and still is ornery as a rodeo bull.

....Speaking of a rodeo.... I somehow managed to get stacy and derrick thomas to do a rodeo dive today! it was hilarious. After she fell off they did a little RW and then Derrick manhandled stacy, gripped her up, pulled her in, and hopped on her back! it was hilarious! stacy was flappin everywhere. she had no control over it. no matter what she did, stacy was getting takin for a ride! ROF. it was hilarious.

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

Yep, I could have done much worse for parents. You want to see the old man in action, just show up at Quincy. Ask around and find out where all the Alabama Gang are setup.
Chuck

[cloud9 0]

We're very proud of your Dad too!!! What an inspriation to the younger generation of skydivers comming. Wow and what appriciation we have for him and the others like him, paving the way for the rest of us. If I ever find myself in the Tuskeegee area I would most certainly stop in and make some jumps. Sounds like a great party I think you've done him proud. Anyway thanks for sharing. Its always great to hear about the folks that got us here!
Some fun eh!