ScrdofHites 0 #1 January 20, 2004 Ok, keep in mind that you're talking to the girl who cries because she can't get off the bunk bed... the girl who can't climb down from the attic... (hence the nickname) My husband was making his 3rd and 4th AFF jumps this weekend and well, I told myself. This is it! Do it and don't think about it. Do it for the following reasons: 1. So you can freakin' understand what the husband is so excited about and talk back intelligently. 2. Therapeutic reasons aka to face my fear of heights. 3. Show everyone I know that they haven't gotten me all figured out just yet. 4. Have a new bad a** attitude/persona to go with my bad a** new last name. (Just got married last month.) 5. So my future kids will think "mommy" is cool too - not just "daddy". Anyway, on with the story. I get to the airport. I put it out of my mind. I watch a tandem video. Talk to a regular who reminds me, "Don't think about it." I sign the waivers. I meet another Tandem (Ellenor) who is going on the first load. We exchange jokes as we listen to the instructor give us a 10 minute low-down on the ins and outs of tandems. I suit up, dimly noticing the "DANGER" label on the harness as it goes on my back. I wave goodbye to the first load as they board, including Ellenor. One of the tandem instructors yells and points at me. "You're next!!" I laugh nervously but swallow hard. 15 minutes goes by that I wait for the chutes to appear in the sky above. I attempt to stare cooly at the clearing blue sky. Nearby I hear 4 other young marine first time tandems teasing eachother as we all wait. I hear one wonder aloud how high the plane is. I answer, "14,000 feet - time to jump". All of their eyes got really big. I think secretly I was hoping that my fear would jump out of my body somehow and into one of them. Soon I see chutes above in brilliant colors. I watch Ellenor land with a huge smile. She exclaims excitedly. I'm interupted by a older tall man with a white jumpsuit. "Are you Veronica? I'm Karl, your tandem instructor. Are you ready?" With that I'm heading to the plane. I ask him if I'm supposed to have glasses. He says, "Well, how much did you pay?" He laughs but gives me no glasses. We step into the plane and get in so that we will be the 2nd to last to leave. My husband and his 2 AFF instructors are in front of me. There we sit cramped on the floor as the plane lifts of the ground and Karl begins to adjust all my straps on my harness. I hear him clicking and unclicking and pulling and pushing. I hear him say, "Oh my, that's dangerous. Glad I caught that!" and "Do you mind if I only hook onto you with 3 hooks instead of 4?" I try to stay confident as he tell me that he has more tandem jumps (1400) than solos. I watch Karl's altimeter as we rise. I threw a look at the quiet young marine beside me and his tandem instructor who just smiles. I tell him. "I'm scared of heights." He said, "ME too. Why'd you do this?" I point to my husband. "Because of him... so we can talk about this together... and for therapeutic/spiritual reasons..." Karl then tells me to remember to grab the grass. "If for some reason you come off of me, just make a big X and I'll try to catch you. If I miss you and you hit the ground just try to remember that it's not the intial impact that kills you, it's the bounce - so just grab the grass on the intial impact so you don't bounce. That way you'll only be broken up badly. The bounce makes all those bones puncture your organs." I feel my nervous start to dance in my stomach. "Thanks for sharing," I say. Karl taps my husband. "I'll take good care of her." As my husband turns away, Karl looks at me. "I'm gonna do something to you that no man has ever done before!!" I hear someone yell. "Anyone watching the light?" About a minute later I hear the engines stall and the door slide open. The cold wind whipping around me makes my body tingle with anxiety. "Is it really that cold out there?" I asked. "Naaah." Karl says. "Where's your glasses?" I say, "I don't have any." Karl smiles. "That's because I didn't give them to you." I take them and put them on gladly. I watch my husband jump from the doorway inches from where I kneel. At that moment I look out and I'm feeling Karl pushing me into the doorway! Suddenly my knees are half out the plane at 14,000 feet!! I start to say, "I can't do this-" but it's too late I'm flipping over and over and over again. I just see plane, sky, ground, sky, ground... Suddenly we stablize and it's sensory overload. Wind rushing against my face, my hands out beside my head. Floating. Flying. Anything but falling... 9000 feet in 1 minute. Karl pulls and we are suddenly standing in mid-air suspended comfortably. So peaceful. So quiet. I see a "map" below me. Squares and lines, green and brown. "Welcome to the real mile high club, sweetheart. You've experienced something only a small percentage of the population ever has. You've jumped from a perfectly good airplane." We float for minutes and land standing up! I signed Karl's logbook... "Thanks, Karl! Can't wait to do it again- but don't forget you'll always be my first!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If at first you succeed, try something harder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flygirl03 0 #2 January 20, 2004 CONGRATULATIONS!!!! SO....when do YOU start AFF???? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ earthbound misfit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skysprite 0 #3 January 20, 2004 Such a great story! Congratulations! ~skysprite Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dkf1979 0 #4 January 20, 2004 Awesome story. My first jump was a tandem jump so I know just how you feel. I basically just relived it reading your story. Still get short of breath just thinking about it. Can't compare it to anything can ya? http://bodypilot.bounceme.net Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #5 January 20, 2004 hehe.... welcome to the club. I thought I was going to just do one little tandem... just to say I did it... and now... 29 jumps later... well, you get the picture. if you're bored and want to read about my experience, www.nightingalesnest.net and click on the skydive link. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blahr 0 #6 January 20, 2004 I dunno, if you ask me a tandem master should try to calm your anxiety, not heighten your fear. Karl sounds kinda like a putz to me. If the tandem master was saying those stupid things to me on the ride up I'd ride back down and jump with someone else Congrats on NOT letting your fears win Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skymedic 0 #7 January 20, 2004 That is awesome...CONGRATS!!!!! life is grand at 14grand... Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DShiznit 0 #8 January 20, 2004 Badass story!! I'm still trying to get my wife to go up as well. She's terrified of flying/heights, so we are taking "baby steps". Congrats! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Falko 0 #9 January 20, 2004 "Welcome... to the real world!" (Morpheus, "The Matrix") edit: "If for some reason you come off of me, just make a big X and I'll try to catch you." He didn't actually say that? Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites mailin 0 #10 January 20, 2004 Great story... but I don't like your TM. If mine had said that I wouldn't have gone again, let alone a first time! Congrats on not letting him stop you! JenniferArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jaybo 0 #11 January 20, 2004 Thank you for sharing and congrats! Very well written and fun to read.Your one of "us" now and always will be. Karl...hmmm, I expect he'll be taking some heat for this one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites StearmanR985 0 #12 January 20, 2004 Congrats ScrdofHites!!! Glad you enjoyed the ride. Sounds to me like the TM did a fine job. The TM's that did mine, my wife's, sister's and cousin's jumps said the same types of things. It was great!!!! All part of the fun. Guess you need to have a good sense of humor to appreciate it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites atsaubrey 0 #13 January 20, 2004 Lets be serious for a second. Most TM's have a feel for the student on whether they need to joke or be calming. My wife for instance needed the calming and two other people i have taken to dz's have needed the jokes. This weekend was a good example. I was on a load with three tandems who all came together and all were nervous, but one of them needed the "dont grab this handle, its the passenger release handle" while the TM acted sick to his stomach. It was hilarious and relieved alot of his fear, as well as lossening up the other two students. Congrats on your tandem by the way!!!!!!! Glad to hear your trying to understand your hubby's addiction....now you'll be hooked too. Time for a second job my friend."GOT LEAD?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites rehmwa 2 #14 January 20, 2004 No, this TM 'sounded' like he was working it up too much. But none of us were there. Some TM's can gage their passengers and adjust for the most, some have the same old 'make the passenger scared' crap for every single dive. However, it does sound like he was keeping her attention focused on him instead of other jumpers doing the same junk. It all depends on the TM, are they in it for the passenger or in it for themselves? They are just people and some are good and some aren't. edit: I thought the TM sounded out of line. It's not whether the passenger has a 'sense of humor' either, it's whether the TM can recognize that fact and act accordingly for each passenger. ... 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jumperconway 0 #15 January 20, 2004 QuoteNo, this TM 'sounded' like he was working it up too much. But none of us were there. edit: I thought the TM sounded out of line. It's not whether the passenger has a 'sense of humor' either, it's whether the TM can recognize that fact and act accordingly for each passenger. Your right about none of us being there. From her story, it sounds like he guaged her pretty well. Part of it for a lot of 1st jump wonders is keeping them distracted so they don't focus on their own fear and stay lose and relaxed IMHO. Sounds to me that he did a good job. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites WILDBILLAQR 0 #16 January 20, 2004 3 years ago today I did my 1st for many of the same reasons you did (not to be a cool mommy ) 196 jumps later its even more fun! I have a big smile reading your post. Welcome to the BLUE SKIES!---------------------------------------------- "Thats not smoke, thats BUCKEYE!!" AQR#3,CWR#49 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skyyhi 0 #17 January 20, 2004 Congratulations on your first jump. . . Karl does sound like he was a little insensitive of the fear of heights thing, but the truth is, if Yoyo had not joked with me. . .kinda like that, I may not have made it to the door on my AFF 1. . .and now I can't wait to get to the door to jump. . .so it worked. . . When are you going to start AFF. . .hehehe!________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites SkydiveNFlorida 0 #18 January 20, 2004 QuoteI dunno, if you ask me a tandem master should try to calm your anxiety, not heighten your fear. Karl sounds kinda like a putz to me. If the tandem master was saying those stupid things to me on the ride up I'd ride back down and jump with someone else Congrats on NOT letting your fears win It's all in good fun! I think some people enjoy it. I didn't do a tandem, but my aff instructor joked around like that. But, they should feel you out a bit and get your comfort level b4 scaring you, maybe. Congrads, girl! Love the story! Angela. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites frankiebrina 0 #19 January 20, 2004 Way to goooooo!!! Hope you dont stop!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites themitchyone 0 #20 January 21, 2004 Sounds like you had a tandem-master a little more more smart-ass that normal . Glad you had a great time and congratulations!"If the Bible has taught us nothing else, and it hasn't, it's that girls should stick to girl's sports such as hot oil wrestling and foxy boxing." - Homer Simpson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ScrdofHites 0 #21 January 21, 2004 Falko, he REALLY did say that. I kid you not. I didn't make up a word of my story! I told you word for word what he said. I thought he was great! I'd already made up my mind to conquer my fear so nothing was going to deter me.... And I would rather die than ride back down to the ground in the plane as a coward. I could never live that down. I think his scary comments did add to how proud I am of myself for facing my fear. And now it is great to see everyone's reaction to this. I shocked so many people by doing this. I've had so many people say they've always wanted to do it. And I love hearing everyone say they're proud of me! That in and of itself is worth the risk.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If at first you succeed, try something harder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ScrdofHites 0 #22 January 21, 2004 Bill, I LOVE reading your "interests" in your profile man! LOL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If at first you succeed, try something harder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cvfd1399 0 #23 January 21, 2004 ScrdofHites you sure are pretty. Congrats on jump, can I buy a rig now(hidden message) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DShiznit 0 #24 January 21, 2004 Just wait until both you and your husband are both interested...... lots o' $$$$!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ScrdofHites 0 #25 January 22, 2004 QuoteScrdofHites you sure are pretty. Congrats on jump, can I buy a rig now(hidden message) Smoootch We'll see dear... we'll see. (Skydivers! Can't live with them, can't live without them.)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If at first you succeed, try something harder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0 Go To Topic Listing
skymedic 0 #7 January 20, 2004 That is awesome...CONGRATS!!!!! life is grand at 14grand... Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DShiznit 0 #8 January 20, 2004 Badass story!! I'm still trying to get my wife to go up as well. She's terrified of flying/heights, so we are taking "baby steps". Congrats! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Falko 0 #9 January 20, 2004 "Welcome... to the real world!" (Morpheus, "The Matrix") edit: "If for some reason you come off of me, just make a big X and I'll try to catch you." He didn't actually say that? Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #10 January 20, 2004 Great story... but I don't like your TM. If mine had said that I wouldn't have gone again, let alone a first time! Congrats on not letting him stop you! JenniferArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybo 0 #11 January 20, 2004 Thank you for sharing and congrats! Very well written and fun to read.Your one of "us" now and always will be. Karl...hmmm, I expect he'll be taking some heat for this one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StearmanR985 0 #12 January 20, 2004 Congrats ScrdofHites!!! Glad you enjoyed the ride. Sounds to me like the TM did a fine job. The TM's that did mine, my wife's, sister's and cousin's jumps said the same types of things. It was great!!!! All part of the fun. Guess you need to have a good sense of humor to appreciate it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atsaubrey 0 #13 January 20, 2004 Lets be serious for a second. Most TM's have a feel for the student on whether they need to joke or be calming. My wife for instance needed the calming and two other people i have taken to dz's have needed the jokes. This weekend was a good example. I was on a load with three tandems who all came together and all were nervous, but one of them needed the "dont grab this handle, its the passenger release handle" while the TM acted sick to his stomach. It was hilarious and relieved alot of his fear, as well as lossening up the other two students. Congrats on your tandem by the way!!!!!!! Glad to hear your trying to understand your hubby's addiction....now you'll be hooked too. Time for a second job my friend."GOT LEAD?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #14 January 20, 2004 No, this TM 'sounded' like he was working it up too much. But none of us were there. Some TM's can gage their passengers and adjust for the most, some have the same old 'make the passenger scared' crap for every single dive. However, it does sound like he was keeping her attention focused on him instead of other jumpers doing the same junk. It all depends on the TM, are they in it for the passenger or in it for themselves? They are just people and some are good and some aren't. edit: I thought the TM sounded out of line. It's not whether the passenger has a 'sense of humor' either, it's whether the TM can recognize that fact and act accordingly for each passenger. ... 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumperconway 0 #15 January 20, 2004 QuoteNo, this TM 'sounded' like he was working it up too much. But none of us were there. edit: I thought the TM sounded out of line. It's not whether the passenger has a 'sense of humor' either, it's whether the TM can recognize that fact and act accordingly for each passenger. Your right about none of us being there. From her story, it sounds like he guaged her pretty well. Part of it for a lot of 1st jump wonders is keeping them distracted so they don't focus on their own fear and stay lose and relaxed IMHO. Sounds to me that he did a good job. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WILDBILLAQR 0 #16 January 20, 2004 3 years ago today I did my 1st for many of the same reasons you did (not to be a cool mommy ) 196 jumps later its even more fun! I have a big smile reading your post. Welcome to the BLUE SKIES!---------------------------------------------- "Thats not smoke, thats BUCKEYE!!" AQR#3,CWR#49 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyyhi 0 #17 January 20, 2004 Congratulations on your first jump. . . Karl does sound like he was a little insensitive of the fear of heights thing, but the truth is, if Yoyo had not joked with me. . .kinda like that, I may not have made it to the door on my AFF 1. . .and now I can't wait to get to the door to jump. . .so it worked. . . When are you going to start AFF. . .hehehe!________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveNFlorida 0 #18 January 20, 2004 QuoteI dunno, if you ask me a tandem master should try to calm your anxiety, not heighten your fear. Karl sounds kinda like a putz to me. If the tandem master was saying those stupid things to me on the ride up I'd ride back down and jump with someone else Congrats on NOT letting your fears win It's all in good fun! I think some people enjoy it. I didn't do a tandem, but my aff instructor joked around like that. But, they should feel you out a bit and get your comfort level b4 scaring you, maybe. Congrads, girl! Love the story! Angela. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frankiebrina 0 #19 January 20, 2004 Way to goooooo!!! Hope you dont stop!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites themitchyone 0 #20 January 21, 2004 Sounds like you had a tandem-master a little more more smart-ass that normal . Glad you had a great time and congratulations!"If the Bible has taught us nothing else, and it hasn't, it's that girls should stick to girl's sports such as hot oil wrestling and foxy boxing." - Homer Simpson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ScrdofHites 0 #21 January 21, 2004 Falko, he REALLY did say that. I kid you not. I didn't make up a word of my story! I told you word for word what he said. I thought he was great! I'd already made up my mind to conquer my fear so nothing was going to deter me.... And I would rather die than ride back down to the ground in the plane as a coward. I could never live that down. I think his scary comments did add to how proud I am of myself for facing my fear. And now it is great to see everyone's reaction to this. I shocked so many people by doing this. I've had so many people say they've always wanted to do it. And I love hearing everyone say they're proud of me! That in and of itself is worth the risk.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If at first you succeed, try something harder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ScrdofHites 0 #22 January 21, 2004 Bill, I LOVE reading your "interests" in your profile man! LOL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If at first you succeed, try something harder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cvfd1399 0 #23 January 21, 2004 ScrdofHites you sure are pretty. Congrats on jump, can I buy a rig now(hidden message) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DShiznit 0 #24 January 21, 2004 Just wait until both you and your husband are both interested...... lots o' $$$$!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ScrdofHites 0 #25 January 22, 2004 QuoteScrdofHites you sure are pretty. Congrats on jump, can I buy a rig now(hidden message) Smoootch We'll see dear... we'll see. (Skydivers! Can't live with them, can't live without them.)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If at first you succeed, try something harder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
themitchyone 0 #20 January 21, 2004 Sounds like you had a tandem-master a little more more smart-ass that normal . Glad you had a great time and congratulations!"If the Bible has taught us nothing else, and it hasn't, it's that girls should stick to girl's sports such as hot oil wrestling and foxy boxing." - Homer Simpson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScrdofHites 0 #21 January 21, 2004 Falko, he REALLY did say that. I kid you not. I didn't make up a word of my story! I told you word for word what he said. I thought he was great! I'd already made up my mind to conquer my fear so nothing was going to deter me.... And I would rather die than ride back down to the ground in the plane as a coward. I could never live that down. I think his scary comments did add to how proud I am of myself for facing my fear. And now it is great to see everyone's reaction to this. I shocked so many people by doing this. I've had so many people say they've always wanted to do it. And I love hearing everyone say they're proud of me! That in and of itself is worth the risk.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If at first you succeed, try something harder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScrdofHites 0 #22 January 21, 2004 Bill, I LOVE reading your "interests" in your profile man! LOL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If at first you succeed, try something harder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cvfd1399 0 #23 January 21, 2004 ScrdofHites you sure are pretty. Congrats on jump, can I buy a rig now(hidden message) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DShiznit 0 #24 January 21, 2004 Just wait until both you and your husband are both interested...... lots o' $$$$!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScrdofHites 0 #25 January 22, 2004 QuoteScrdofHites you sure are pretty. Congrats on jump, can I buy a rig now(hidden message) Smoootch We'll see dear... we'll see. (Skydivers! Can't live with them, can't live without them.)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If at first you succeed, try something harder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
