Snowbird

A man walks into a bar one night. He goes up to the bar and asks for a beer. "Certainly, sir, that'll be 1 cent." "One penny?!" exclaimed the guy. The barman replied, "Yes." So, the guy glances over at the menu, and he asks, "Could I have a nice juicy T-bone steak, with fries, peas, and a salad?" "Certainly sir," replies the bartender, "but all that comes to real money." "How much money?" inquires the guy. "Four cents," he replies. "Four cents?!" exclaims the guy. "Where's the guy who owns this place?" The barman replies, "Upstairs with my wife." The guy says, "What's he doing with your wife?" The bartender replies, "Same as what I'm doing to his business."

Nope, no bambinos. Many nieces and nephews, though. Most of them call me the 'crazy auntie'. One niece really wants to try, the oldest nephew thinks it's cool but 'not in a million years will you ever ever get me in an airplane with less than a hundred seats, and under no condition will I get out until it has come to a complete stop.' The rest have just taken it in stride. The littlest nephew (3 1/2) was at the dz when I made my first jump. When he saw me geared up he said, 'Auntie you look funny', and when I told him I was going to jump out of an airplane he said, 'Auntie, no! You hurt your knees!'

I always, always wanted to fly, and dreamed about it all the time. Still do. Then I moved to a place where paragliding and hang gliding were popular, and watched them with envy. Then I moved to where I live now, just a few minutes from the drop zone. From my front yard, I can watch people jump. After that, the desire sort of entrenched itself. Watching the Skyhawks a few years back only made it stronger. Now I just wish I hadn't taken so long to decide to go for it! no one soars too high, who soars on her own wings

After my first jump, once I was home, and sitting there alone, it struck me as a complete revelation. I can do anything after that! Why jump? For the same reason that I write. Because there is a fire inside me, and doing these things feeds it and makes it burn hotter than anything else can. Not jumping or writing or digging into the earth in my garden would be like dumping water on that fire. no one soars too high, who soars on her own wings

Hi Michele, I'm a newbie since you left. Welcome back! Your writing is excellent, and every word has me hanging anxiously for more. When I found your stories after my first few jumps, I read them over and over for inspiration, and for the dedication you have and describe so well. It's great that you've returned to the sky. It's a marvelous testimony to your character and passion. My best wishes to your father and his health. Blue skies! no one flies too high, who flies on her own wings

I hope that feeling never goes away! I don't have video, just my own written memories, but wow does reading that bring it all back!

'Sky high'? Oh yeah. After my first jump, I didn't even bother trying to go to sleep until 2 am, and didn't fall asleep until at least 3:30 am. I rode that wave for a week! I couldn't form two consecutive thoughts that didn't include skydiving. Then when I did my 4th and 5th jumps on the same day, I could've flown home I felt so high. Damn snow. Must... jump...

On a bad day, five minutes. I live under the approach to the airport. Part of the reason why it's absolute murder to be home on a nice day on the weekend; I can watch every load! My in-laws live just across the road from the airport, so it's even worse when I'm visiting with them. Only one good solution to this dilemma... Go to work? Not!

Thank you Fred, and Congrats! Your parents sound very cool. I'm absolutely aching for spring, so I can jump my a** off! I want that feeling you describe so well. I hope you don't mind, I'm gonna print your story and read it for encouragement. No one flies too high, who flies on his own wings.

Most of the above, especially the loud chewers. My dad's dentures used to click when he ate. yuck! Men who don't believe that a woman can know anything about anything technical. People who kill their houseplants by 'forgetting' to water them. Doh! The question, 'You've been married for years. Why don't you have kids yet?' Lawsuits over the most inane, stupid things. Vandalism. Stupid stupid stupid. No one flies too high, who flies with his own wings.

That's awesome! I recognise the smile on his face.

Go team go! Woohoo! Congratulations and kudos for our gals!

Listen to Remster! If you want to get it in print, don't put it here, or anywhere on the net! Congrats on the 'A'.

The true difference between cats and dogs... Dogs look at their owner and think, 'She feeds me, combs me, picks up after me, loves me... she must be a god!' Cats look and their owner and think, 'She feeds me, combs me, cleans my litter box, loves me... I must be a god!' We have 1 fat, antisocial cat, Leaha, and 1 silly dog, Shawnee. They get along alright, but Leaha hates to admit it. I'd have more cats, but Leaha really, really hates other cats. We tried a kitten once, hoping that Leaha's 'nuturing' side would come out. Instead she tormented the kitten endlessly. The pet I want to get is a rainbow boa. What a beautiful snake! http://members.shaw.ca/kaizen/pets.htm No one flies too high, who flies on his own wings

Happy happy, and many more! Well told story. Butterflies and shakes and chills and the sudden urgent need to find a toilet and dry mouth and heart racing fear and...

Oh yeah! I've always been the odd auntie; now I'm odd, and crazy! I want to be a published author, and would love to be a well-paid published author. I want a nice little funky house on a big piece of property, out of town but still close to a DZ. I want an awesome garden. Like I said, I'm the odd auntie. no one soars too high, who soars on his own wings

Combine my 30th birthday, losing my father to a heart attack when he was way too bloody young, and the need to get a new perspective on the world, and there are a few of my reasons to do something new and extreme. Wanting to fly all my life, watching the Skyhawks, and living near a DZ made skydiving the easy choice.

I so know what you mean! I just watched it, I'm all pumped up, ready to go, and the snow keeps falling falling falling fall in g Is it pleasure, or is it pain? I've got to stop doing this to myself, or find a cheap ticket someplace warm. Don't I wish! no one flys too high, who soars on his own wings

My stomach is twisting just reading these posts! Feels just like it does in the morning when I decide 'Yup, I'm jumping today.' I did my first jump September 15, last fall. I was the only new student of the day, so the FJC course went quickly, and then I had to wait about 3 hours for my turn. One other guy was making his first jump, so we got nervous together. The ride up was fine, Kiwi (my JM) kept me smiling, and I enjoyed the ride. I jumped second, and watching the first guy go made my stomach do a backflip. Kinda like it's doing right now just thinking about it. We came around for my jump run, and I went on auto pilot. Here's what I wrote that night after I got home. From three thousand feet, all the comfortable elements so familiar on the ground could be children's toys, small and imperminent. The wind from the open door, however, is real and strong and somehow both joyful and terrifying. I reached out the open door of the Cessna, slowly edging out onto the wheel strut, keeping close eye contact with Kiwi. (He had to tell me to step off the strut twice)The wind pulls at me, wanting company in the wide open sky, so blue it feels endless. For a moment I hang there, holding on easily, until the jumpmaster says 'GO!' (They tell me that I tried to swim back to the plane. I don't rightly remember.) The carefully learned lesson, finished just a few hours ago, disappeared into the oblivion of fear. For three endless seconds nothing held me; the world deserted me and even gravity signed a betrayal. A tug at my shoulders reclaimed my presence of mind. Look up! The parachute opens, a welcome rectangle of white and yellow penetrating the blue.(totally forgot to count) A voice on the radio prompts me to test the controls, and then welcomes me to the world of skydiving. Tony, standing 3000 feet below, watches and coaches me from the radio. Go left, go right. The world turns below me and I turn above it, we dance. Too soon the earth wants me back, willing to lend me to the sky, but not relinquish me completely. The target - white tarp stretched across green grass - welcomes me and I wait... wait... flare! and I slow, touch the ground, and whoop for the joy of it all. (I didn't stand it up, but almost) Other than the heart bursting moment of absolute, positive fear that the canopy wouldn't open, that was the most amazing experience I've ever had. Can't wait for spring, to go again! Just for fun, pictures of my first jump are at http://members.shaw.ca/kaizen/skydiving.htm

Hooked, The best part is the look on their faces when they realise you really did it. Now that I've begun, I can't imagine that I'll ever stop. I've decided that being 30 is awesome, and this will be my decade! I like rocking this boat

'Cause I am not the quiet, bookish, take no chances and don't rock the boat kinda person my friends think I am, and it was time to prove it. I've always wanted to fly. Turning (gasp!) 30 had something to do with it too. And I think that losing my dad last year gave me a nasty taste of mortality, and it seemed like a waste to get any older without living. No one soars too high, who soars with his own wings.

As a very recent whuffo I'd like to thank Koyne at Okanagan skydive, who took 5 minutes to answer my 'annoying' whuffo questions. Two years ago he was shopping where I work, wearing a jacket that declared him a skydiver. Wow, I was green with envy. I asked, I'm sure, the standard 'stupid' questions. Now, I already had been thinking about trying it out. I'd watched the Canadian Skyhawks, and a skydiving demo at an airshow, and the bug had got into me. But some checking had revealed the $'s neccesary to get started and I just didn't feel I could spend the money. I had a new mortgage, truck repairs, blah blah blah. So I asked Koyne about skydiving. He didn't know that I'd been thinking about it already, but he answered my questions. The vicarious thrill of talking to a 'real skydiver' began to be replaced by first person feelings and facts. It took five minutes of his life and occupied hours of mine. Yes it took two years for the desire to blossom and the money woes to lessen. Yes maybe he went away thinking 'She'll never do it, what a waste of time'. But it happened and I can't imagine having missed this and he was a big part of the path that got me skyborn. So every time a friend asks a question that sounds a lot like the ones I was asking just a few months ago, I answer as best I can cause maybe they will do it, and it's worth my five minutes if they do. And while not everyone I talk to may not agree with my choice, my friends and family who matter respect that I'm doing it and support it. I don't give a rats ass what anyone else thinks. And saying, 'if they really want to do it, they'll find a DZ and check it out,' is bull. I'd checked out the cost and options, and that actually held me off. My next source was a real person, and his willingness to talk made the difference. A lot of whuffo questions are honest misconceptions; why make them worse by being a smartass? No one soars too high, who soars on his own wings.

I think it's a Les Brown quote... 'You can die in the bleachers, or die on the field. You may as well go out and have fun.'

Low clouds, white with snow Falling, as I dream to fly Drifting to the ground. Snowflakes own the sky Briefly, until spring returns To paint the land green. Over verdant hills I will join the birds in flight Free to touch the sky. No one soars too high, who soars on his own wings.

Blue sky is the gift Tempting me beyond my fear I step into joy