grannyinthesky

I've been reading this thread being glad I don't live in the mid-west, then it dawned on me they grow corn all over this part of Idaho. I've already landed in a field full of sage brush that wasn't much fun. I sure don't want to try out a corn field. Any body know how potatoes, wheat or sugar beets would be? "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

I watched all the way through, several times and then sent the link to some special people in my life. Thanks for sharing it. Pat "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Oh, yes. On a regular basis. Between my students, the college administration and my own kids, is seems like someone is always trying to push my buttons. Skydiving sure helps to relieve that stress. For that too brief time, you really have to shut that stuff off and focus on the here and now. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

I sure know that feeling of getting frustrated with complieting a dive like you're supposed to. I'm doing the ISP for AFF that is set out in the SIM. Cat A - 1 jump, Cat B - 1 jump, Cat C - 2 jumps, Cat D - 2 jumps , etc (only in my case, D's gonna be at least 3 jumps after not doing anything but figuring out how to get stable on my last jump.) The jump before that, my instructor pulled for me because my sleeve blew over my altimeter and I was looking at it (when I knew it must be about time to pull) trying to figure out how to see how high I was. As I have been reminded on a regular basis since then, "When it doubt, whip it out!" I think I got that message. Is that a Cessna-182 that you are jumping from? It sounds about like the one I have been jumping from. I'm not sure that step is even as big as an album cover, at least it doesn't seem that way when the wind is trying to keep me from being able to get my foot on it!!!! I'm finally getting more comfortable about climbing out. Last jump, I had to start learning to spot, so I had to stick my head out of the door and look down at the ground to see where we were. I was a little nervous about trying that, but it actually was pretty cool. I do get to the Central Valley area once in a while. I am originally from California (just can't do that "Cali "thing) and I still have a brother in Redding. After I get my license and some additional jumps, I do plan on making a trip to that area to show him what his big sis has learned to do. So, you will probably see me one of these days. Have you learned to pack parachutes yet? I didn't think it was too tough to learn, but I know I'm not ready to jump what I pack yet. I need to practice a bunch more times. Blue skies back at ya' Pearl "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

I noticed a few similarities myself. I don't know about regressing.....I have just decided to live with the idea that I have a 20 something brain in a 50 something body. When I have one of those jumps when I'm not thrilled with my performance, I'll start wondering if I am just to old.... Then, along comes a 20 or 30 something posting about having the same type problem and I realize it's just the nature of the beast. THere's a thread right now in either General Skydiving or Safety and Training from someone who didn't complete his tasks on his level 4. That's basically the same jump I get to repeat. By the way, I don't have the tattoo yet, but I'll uphold my end of the deal when my kid gets around to jumping and I'm pretty sure he will. I suppose I should start thinking about what it's gonna be. Are you having as much fun learning this awesome sport as I am? Where do you jump at? Pearl "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

You pulled at altitude and walked away from the jump...that's good. I look at this kind of jump as anew learning opportunity, not a failure. Listen to the other posters here. Your instructor should be debriefing you after the jump. I generally find there are things that I did right and wrong that I wasn't even aware of. It should be part of the learning process. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Wow! Would it be nice to jump in the 40's. The temp here has only been in the 20's the last 4 times I've jumped and that's on the ground. It's a little cool when they pop the door open, to say the least. Have a blast when you jump..... We will think positively.....The weather will be perfect (for both of us

I've got a sneaking suspicion that you don't get this out of your system. It just gets more and more firmly entrenched. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Yeah, we are a small club if you look at active skydivers over 50 and then it becomes even smaller when you look at the ones that waited until then to start, it's an even more select group. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Wow....Someone else like me, but I got ya' beat by there years, but you have three more jumps that me. I'm 57 and thoroughly hooked on skydiving. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

I used to manage movie theaters and the trailers are almost always the best parts of the movies. I just have a hard time getting excited about any of them. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

I am so excited for you. Leave a little room in the sky for this old lady though. Ok? "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

My kids don't mind me spending the money, but they have had to do a little adjusting to the idea that their mom likes to jump out of airplanes. My daughter was the first to decide I knew what I was doing, but my son took a tlittle longer. I think he's coming around. He said he would try a tandem if I would get a tattoo. I might have to take him up on that. My students, well, as one of them posted on my discussion board today ,"You kick butt!!!", and that seems to be the general reaction among the students. They may not be as happy when word problems related to skydiving start showing up on their tests, however!!! "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Thanks. Who knows? Maybe we'll get a chance to jump together somewhere. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Let's see. I'm a math teacher with very little science background, so I decided to take a physics class. The instructor decided a field trip to do a skydive would be a fun/educational experience. Well, I was the only student who could afford to go with him. I had never seriously thought about skydiving before except to think it would be a fun thing to do---no burning desire to then.....Any way, he and I went and did a tandem (first time for him too). As I was sitting on the ground after landing, I was thinking "I could do this again". Two hours later, I was thinking "I could do this every year on my birthday." About two more hours later, I was calling the DZ to find out about getting my license. THat was October. I had some money in a savings account and some more came my way. So I decided to spend the money before one of my kids came up with a disaster that needed it. I might have waited until spring...... but no, I just couldn't wait that long, so Thanksgiving weekend I started AFF. I'm now at 6 jumps and looking forward to every sunny weekend day so I can jump again and again. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Yeah, I guess it really isn't irresponsibility. I'm just still getting used to the idea of spending money to do fun stuff I want to do after a lot of years as a single parent. And that's spending LOTS of money, with a lot more to come. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Yeah, good idea, and on teacher wages, I'll definitely be looking for used. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Yep. That's how it's been going for me. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Oh, cool. Finally someone at least starting in the same decade as my starting age.

I'm not sure I'm all that responsible yet. What 57 year old granny who is learning to skydive can really say she's responsible? "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Way to go....It's an unbelievable experience. I bet you can't wait for next time. I never can!!!!Savor that first jump and have a great time learning to skydive. There's nothing like it. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Me, too. And then there's what my instructor keeps telling me about where to fly my landing pattern---If you don't want to land on it, don't fly over it. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Well, you might mention that a 57 year old grandma loves skydinving and has done 1 tandem and 5 AFF jumps now. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

And then there. It's about the bestest thing in the world. "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490

Here's some granny hugs for ya' {{{{{{hugs}}}}}} "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490