butcherman70

I read the thread yesterday about not letting any one but active jumpers on the dz.com forum, and for the first time was a little discourgaged about all this skydiving business. First of all, I'm an absolute newb. I have exactly one tandem jump to my name. I found myself there after wanting to go for 20 years. Unfortunately it always took a back seat to life until my body started failing from rheumatoid arthritis. I'm not one to bitch about it, it's just how it is. So I figured if I'm going to get into it, it'd better be now. And I went. Let me tell you a little something about life changing... I log onto this forum no less than two or three times a day when I can. I enjoy reading the other "newb" experiences and relate them to my own. I read the other forums as they are wealth of information from the person with 5 dives to instructor with ten thousand. I learn something every time I log on. Not to mention there is a sense of community here that I would imagine most other groups of a like mind simply can't comprehend when it comes to sky-diving. Whether you have one jump, or a thousand, it is an entirely personal, completely visceral, and virtually indescribable event to take your body and hurl it from an altitude 3 miles above the earth and live to tell about it. Those of you out there that have thousands, I applaud your dedication and hope to catch you some day. Those with a measly 2 or 3, it doesn't take any less balls than the guy with a 1000. Those on here snooping around and just thinking about it, you're done reading now, get on out there and make it happen. You'll never regret it and your life won't be the same. In the mean time, for me, the newb with one little ole' jump under his belt, this web site keeps me going while I take my little pills and wait for my body to mend so I can get out there and do it again. In my newb opinion, if you need a bunch of zeros behind your name to feel you're part of a bonafide elite, all the zeros in the world won't help you, you never got it in the first place.

First the disclaimer; ask your doctor, etc., etc. However, if you're not controlled with meds., haven't had a successful ablation, and still decide to jump, bare down like you're going to have a massive b.m. for a few seconds, (vaso-vagal maneuver), and see if that gets it.

Great description Thomasurii, and great advice dreaming13. I did the tandem in the first place after two years of health b.s. followed by a rheumatoid diagnosis. Lots of meds and blah, blah, blah. It's a pain in my ass, but not gonna stop me from going on with the AFF or anything else I do. This forum, though I don't comment much, is awesome in and of itself. A lot of info and links, and most responses in all I've read seem genuine. I'd never sat in front of a computer more than 5 min. before finding this site...not so anymore. When I do get up again I'll be sure to drop a line. Just in from work and Bertha brough surf so I'm out!

For a while there I thought there might be something wrong, but after reading all the forums for the past 2 SOLID MONTHS! since the tandem, I've pretty much figured out it something that just happens. Unfortunately, right after the jump and planning AFF, the wife was laid off work; so we're in recovery mode and I'm stuck to dreaming. And reading EVERY F-ING thing I can get my hands as far as skydiving goes. Honestly though, it's all good. When the b.s. is done and we're back on track, it'll be that much sweeter.

Appreciate the reply. I guess that's why I posted a comment as I don't consider myself obsessive. This is a truly a first. Can't wait for the AFF.

Here's the deal. Did my first tandem 3 wks. ago and am still in the clouds. Been doing research ever since, and plan to do AFF course ASAP. I'm 38, father of two boys, married, (happily). I'm an ER RN and see bad mojo every day, trying to reconcile risk vs. benefits as a family man but can't see not getting certified and going every chance possible. I knew when I hit the ground on the tandem I'd be back and honestly, have so far lived a pretty adventurous life, but keep having this nagging sensation that sky-diving is where I belong. Is this normal?!! I'm pretty sure I've got the same feeling a budding crack head does the first time they hit the pipe. Any similar experiences out there? Thanks.