I've enjoyed reading these threads and sad to see one of the old timers go. One less opportunity for me to jump with one of the true "skygods" and learn something from experience. I do hope that all of the experience doesnt get such a bad taste in their mouth from "hot shot newbies" that you shut us all out. I'm always looking for advice, and experience to jump with. You only learn from those that can teach.
SONIC WOODY #146
There is a fine line between cockiness and confidence -- which side of the line are you on?
There is a fine line between cockiness and confidence -- which side of the line are you on?
TFFTM 1
I feel very fortunate to have learned at a small Cessna DZ here in Alabama. No frills, but great friends and tutors. We still learn to spot and pretty much get graded on it every time. Graded may not be the right word 
We land into the wind not with it. If we need to adjust the landing pattern we adjust it, and everyone is safe.
We treat everyone from thier first day there as family. We sit around and tell the same old lies and, depending on the amount of beer, probably some new ones. I love to sit and listen to some of our older members talk about some of the things they pulled, stories of the Cotton Belt Conference, Little make shift DZs and traveling all over the South to jump. I know that my jumping experiences have been enriched by these souls and I dread the day they decide to hang it up. All I can hope is that I take some of there values, methods, and the balls to "Do The Right Thing" with me to the next generation of jumpers.
Thanks Guys....
We land into the wind not with it. If we need to adjust the landing pattern we adjust it, and everyone is safe. We treat everyone from thier first day there as family. We sit around and tell the same old lies and, depending on the amount of beer, probably some new ones. I love to sit and listen to some of our older members talk about some of the things they pulled, stories of the Cotton Belt Conference, Little make shift DZs and traveling all over the South to jump. I know that my jumping experiences have been enriched by these souls and I dread the day they decide to hang it up. All I can hope is that I take some of there values, methods, and the balls to "Do The Right Thing" with me to the next generation of jumpers.
Thanks Guys....
cutaway1 3
I've really enjoyed reading all of the preceding threads. The repetition over the years of Funerals, ambulances, and medivac helicopters do get to be old and hurtful. But, I knew after making my first jump at 16 that I would be doing this for the rest of my life, because the experience is simply magical, out of this world, unlike anything else. Even solo jumps are a gass, much more tranquil and serene. I believe I have just as much fun now as I did at 16, I was fortunate when I began because I was surrounded by all kinds of really good, colorful, and helpful friends. It amazes me now, instead of being the young guy at the dz, I'm now one of the old guys, and while jumping I still feel that youthful exuberance. Where else can a person almost 60 go out and play hard with 20 years olds and still be competitive. At our dz we have several people that didn't even begin jumping until they were in their 50's, we all get along well, have good comraderie, and great times. One of my best friends who had also been jumping for decades with thousands of jumps, simply hung it up about 5 years ago, I think he got spooked by a close call. It's really to bad. He drinks now more than ever. Sometimes if you consider jumping from a certain perspective, it is just plain nuts. But I suppose that is where part of the magic comes from, defying logic, taking risk with your life for the pure fun of it. Despite the politics, it is still really a big fun awesome beautiful adventure for me. I feel very fortunate to still be able to jump. And I won't stop until I have to.
Aloha to you all,
Tim
Aloha to you all,
Tim
SCR-21
It amazes me now, instead of being the young guy at the dz, I'm now one of the old guys,
***
Tim~
You may have me by a decade, but I too find myself wondering when 'THAT' happened?!
....Your comments bring to mind a recent discussion I was having with some friends.
Could it be we're going to be the last generation of 'old timers' in the hard core sense?
Because of the very things you described, the memories we have, the comradeship, having gone through the 'weird' times together so to speak.
The newbies or 'tourists' as they're sometimes refered to...have a different frame of reference and 'may' not be stuck for life...
Then again there WAS a lotta beer going down during the discussion.....just like the 'good ole dayz'!
~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~
***
Tim~
You may have me by a decade, but I too find myself wondering when 'THAT' happened?!
....Your comments bring to mind a recent discussion I was having with some friends.
Could it be we're going to be the last generation of 'old timers' in the hard core sense?
Because of the very things you described, the memories we have, the comradeship, having gone through the 'weird' times together so to speak.
The newbies or 'tourists' as they're sometimes refered to...have a different frame of reference and 'may' not be stuck for life...
Then again there WAS a lotta beer going down during the discussion.....just like the 'good ole dayz'!
~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~
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I have a real good longtime buddy named Kirk Bastian.."Bounce" to his friends, that uses a similar line on the noobs. "I have 2000 more round jumps than you have jumps total"....and he does.
Me I just normally tell 'em to get the f**k away from me. :o)
bozo
I just tell them come back when and if they survive 15 years in the sport and we can talk again.
Sparky