slobuzzard

I know what you mean by 20/50. I still feel like a kid in my mind but sometimes my poppin' knees and less flexability try to tell me otherwise. It sounds like your doing better than me on your AFF. You know why I have more jumps than you? I repeated 1-4, with a really frustrating level 4. It's like the first time on each level was a struggle and the next time I knew what to expect and no problem. After a really crappy level 4, I got frustrated, just kinda zoned out and my instructor pulled for me. I was so afraid they were going to pull me aside and tell me this probably wasn't for me. I didn't jump for another two weeks and those were two of the longest weeks in my life. Sure enough I was pulled aside. What followed was the most thoughtful concerned for my safety, my enjoyment and my future in this sport talk that I was not expecting. I had a great level 5 that day. I just need to quit being so tenetive and show the confidence in myself that they've shown in me. My dropzone is Madera, Ca.. It's a small DZ which is great for a Newbie. One plane, a Cessna that holds a pilot and four jumpers, so on levels 1-3, 3 out of 5 people on the plane get out and stand on a platform probably smaller than an album cover ( a unit of measurement that probably only we can understand ). Like you said earlier, when that door opens I still kinda freak, which is weird, because once I'm out on that step I'm fine and when I let go ,even better. The regulars and vets are a great bunch of people, young and old alike. I've always been kind of a quiet, introverted person, but these good people have brought me out of my shell. Well, enough of me rambling on. Blue Skies young lady, if you're ever in the San Joaquin, give us a call. Cheers

Hi Pearl, I replied to your post on Joea's post the other day and just checked out your site today. Damn we sound like two peas in a pod the experiences are so similar. First jumps in our 50's, first tattoos in our 50's ( I'm going for my fourth next Friday ), are we regressing. That's fine by me. Hope the weather clears for you. Cheers

I had to check out your site to see where that name came from. Now I understand. My first reaction was maybe you told Mama " I'm gonna start jumpin' outa planes" and her comeback was " Right, when pigs fly "

Hi Grace and welcome. That sucks that your tandem got postponed, hope the weather clears up for you soon. My first jump was a tandem with my daughter.She told me " I can't believe how calm you were, you looked like you were stepping off a curb instead of out the door of a plane at 14,000 feet ".Yea, on the outside. Inside my stomach was burning and my heart was in my throat. I wasn't really afraid because I figured these guys do this all the time, I'm in good hands. But nervous, oh yea, I looked like such a dork in my video. Jack's asking me questions trying to get excited reactions for the video and I'm so nervous I'm just standing there, yup, nope. I'm sure they won't be using it for a business promotion. Have fun with it Grace, your going to love it. I'm betting you'll be back for more

It sounds like we have a lot in common. Your earlier post where you talked about your instructor talking to you after a dive you weren't happy with sounds like it could have been written by me word for word. Hey, maybe we could start a very small club. Skydivers who know who Danny Kaye is. Good quote, I like it

Oh Crap, see what a "newbie" I am. BS is obviously not the right close. I think I just relized it's a farewell. Sorry Joea, I'm a idiot!

[I know how you feel Joea. I did my first dive ( a tandem ) last year with my daughter in Australia. It was one of those things I had to try once in this life.For my daughter it was probably a once in a lifetime thing but I couldn't stop thinking about it, I had to take it farther. I'm 54. I wondered if they would even let an old fart like me start an AFF. Glad they did because I'm hooked. I have been a up and down student for my instructors, atta boys one jump and then looking at me an shaking their heads the next.What a great bunch of people, I hope they know how much I appreciate them. I have more respect for their talent and love of the sport by the day. I was not at the drop zone the weekend one of the young guys had a real bad landing on a low swoop, lucky he wasn't killed. Really makes you stop and think when it's close to home and you know the person. The drop zone is a small operation which I think is good for a " newbie ", smaller groups in the air and lees traffic at the landing area. Lots of great regulars and plenty of one on one with the owner and instructors. Thanks to you vets out there for all the good advise. Blue Skies 39 It only gets better[