Rebel

Hello, I know it has taken me a long time to get back with another post, but I’m here. My pictures and video are developed from my second jump. I had a blast. The sky wasn’t bright and sunny like my first jump, but the overcast skies and the clouds added some depth to the pictures. Here are a few that I’d like to share with you. I’m still planning on making my 3rd jump sometime this month. My greatest wish is to be able to make this jump with the people that first inspired me, The US ARMY GOLDEN KNIGHTS. Nothing would make me happier than to jump with these professionals. I’ve made several attempts to contact The Golden Knights, but haven’t heard from them yet. I even tried contacting Ann Curry at the Today Show. A few years ago she was filmed jumping with them. I thought the Today Show might give me a lead for me to follow. I’m not going to give up trying to contact them. Can anyone help me? There are still a few days for me to hear, before they appear at the Willow Grove Naval Station this weekend September 13th and 14th. I’d love to jump with them this year… but there is always next year. I’m back floating in the clouds!

hey kevin, we've got a lot in common... - live in phila. - my dz is cross keys - made my 2nd tandem jump on tues - ati video card - all in wonder 9700 pro my 2nd one, the fan on the 1st stopped working @ 2 months old - replaced by ati - sony 32" plasma i'll run your problem by my computer guy to see if he has any ideas. he went crazy getting the ati card working in my dell 8200. rebel

This past Tuesday was an unbelievable day for me… I made my 2nd jump and had 2 surprises. I arrived at the dz about 90 minutes before my scheduled jump time. I checked in and had plenty of time to talk to people. Several of my friends and family arrived shortly after I did. My cheering section wasn't as large as the 1st time, but that was okay. This time I wanted everything to be low key. I wanted to be able to talk to Range and Paul, (my Tandem Instructor and Videographer) before we jumped. My first surprise was a reporter from a local TV station. She interviewed me for a little while and shot some video. It aired in a short spot on the 10:00 News. My 2nd surprise was a very dear and close friend. Barb came to see what I found so exciting. She wanted to watch me jump first hand. Barb and I met in the hospital in October 1991. We were both receiving treatments for MS. She had been inspired by what I have been saying about skydiving and thought she might want to go for it too. I was almost ready to be wheeled out, when she told me that she was coming with me. Like me she was put into a harness and had her legs and arms strapped together so that they were immoblized. The reporter filmed us as we were wheeled out and loaded. This time I was 1st in. I got to see everyone go out and their canopies open. Out we went Paul, Range and me. What a Rush… I was back in the clouds. It has only been 5 weeks, but it has felt like 5 months since my 1st jump. I love the feeling I get when I’m freefalling. No wheelchair, no bed, nothing to hold me down, I’m FREE! When our canopy opened we are pulled back up into the sky for a few seconds, then Range and I start to float to the ground. Range asked me if I was ready for some turns and I told him I was ready and to GO FOR IT! We first turned to the left and then to the right. It was an intense feeling, I wished that I could stay up in the clouds forever. Our plane passed beneath us and I came back to reality, my jump was almost over. The ground was almost under foot, Range slowly lifted my legs 10 feet, 9 feet, 5 feet… and then we were down. This time Range landed on his feet, and so did I, “sort of”. I softly landed on my bottom. My jump was over. I was back in my wheelchair, but my head remains in the clouds. I wanted to go right back up and make another jump, I’m planning to make my 3rd jump sometime in September. My greatest wish is to be able to jump with the people that first inspired me, The US ARMY GOLDEN KNIGHTS Parachuting Team. I am pretty sure that they are going to be in my area at the Willow Grove Naval Station on September 13th and 14th in competition and doing demonstrations. Nothing would make me happier than to jump with these professionals. Thank you again for welcoming me into your family.

Last Thursday I had an awesome day. I was at Pocono Raceway and my friend, drove me around the track in his race track prepared Corvette. Pocono Raceway is the same track that NASCAR and the INDY CARS use. We reached speeds of a little over 150 MPH on the front staightaway. We drove around the track for most of the day and went from 0 to 150 then down to 0 and all point’s in-between. Riding in a race car was a lot of fun. I have a strong interest in sports cars, I’d probably have one too if my health had been different. Now I’m lucky to be part of the exciting group of people… SKYDIVERS. Tomorrow at 2:00 I’m going to make my second tandem jump at CrossKeys. I’ll let you know how I did. I’m going to try to get some sleep, but it will be tough. I’m just as excited as I was the first time. THANKS FOR WELCOMING ME INTO THE FAMILY. REBEL

Here are my boys Bru was my first. He was truly man's best friend. As my MS progressed he would never leave my side. Piper was a half brother to Bru. I got him when Bru was 3. He kept Bru exercised when I couldn't.They are both gone and I miss them very very much. Rebel is my namesake. I named him after James Dean. Each one holds a special place in my heart

My friend Michele, This post was so enjoyable to read. I began to tingle after reading only a few sentences. As I read on I was brought up into the sky with RippedCord, your friends and you. RippedCord was very lucky to have you there with him. You must have made him feel so comfortable. He can read this post and relive it every time he does. Michele, you really know how to capture a reader’s attention. I know first hand because of the way so many people personally responded to me about “Rebel with a Dream”. I hope that one day I will be able to be look out (like Keith did), and share the skies with you. Your friend, Rebel

I feel like I've been swept up by a hurricane! My first jump on 7-15 was absolutely unforgettable. I was so captivated by my feeling of weightlessness. Before I landed I said I wanted to go back up. Soon, soon it won't be too long! On Sunday 7-20 I was interviewed on CNN, I felt like I was back up above the clouds. No sooner was I off the air, and back at my Nursing Home, the phone started ringing. My friends and family were calling... This went on for several days, then dwindled down. Monday morning I got a couple of emails and a pm. "go to dropzone.com look, at the home page". I told you just like a hurricane... the winds have picked me up again. What a wonderful article. Michele Lesser wrote such a beautiful story about me. We have only spoken on the telephone a few times, you'd think that we've known each other forever. Tomorrow morning at 6:35 am Pacific DT I'm being interviewed on KPSI Radio (920 AM). KPSI Broadcasts from Palm Springs California. I hope you can listen in. Rebel

hi mesh congrats on your jump. i was at cross keys on the 15th also. it was my 1st jump. there is a good chance we met. i know i was the only jumper there tied up like a turkey ready for the oven.(i'm the guy in the wheelchair) maybe i'll get to see you at the dz. congrats again. rebel

Hey, everyone. CNN got a hold of my story (my little sister is persistent), and they are going to interview me Sunday night at 10pm eastern (replay 1am eastern) via satellite. If anyone wants to see a feel-good skydiving story on regular mainstream media, watch it at. The show is CNN Sunday Night: A look at the day's top stories with Fredricka Whitfield I think I am scheduled for mid-way through the show. I'm still floating in the clouds. Art

Hi, everyone! I did it!! I did a tandem jump! I went out to Crosskeys Freefall adventure 7/15, and it's a great place. I had a lot of friends there, and family too. I got put into a sling, trussed up like the family Thanksgiving turkey, and was loaded on the plane. I didn't get nervous - I wasn't even scared. People had reminded me to keep breathing, but I didn't need to be reminded. I was cool. Range was my TM, and Jumphog was my videographer. And then we went jumping. It was more than I thought it would be, bigger and better and really amazing. I am still in awe of it, a day later. It was endless and over too soon. It was so big and it was so great and the canopy ride was smooth and I landed well and it was just incredible. I wanted to take a second and say thanks for supporting me, and giving me so much encouragement. It's not everyday that a wheelchair bound person gets to be free, and it was the best thing I've done - and I've done a lot. Michele has been working on a story and she says it will be done soon...and maybe even with video, too, so you can all see what it looks like for a rebel to fly.

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Hi everyone, it's Me again. I'm still learning, I just posted this in "Introductions and Greets" by mistake. I hope to make jump #1 next week or the following one from Cross Keys in NJ. I don't want to sound stupid, but what do I wear. My ability to move my legs and feet is minimal. Should I plan on taping my legs together so that they don't move uncontrollably. I wear orthopedic "boots" on my feet 24/7. They are only held onto my feet with velcro strap. I'm afraid that the velcro won't keep them on my feet. Would sneakers be a better choice? I have a splint on my left hand and forearm. It too has little movement. Should I zip it inside a jacket? My right arm works okay, but my right hand doesn't. Should I zip it inside my jacket too. Please help me with how I should dress and prepare. I'm not going to let what I can't do or move spoil this exciting day. I'm GOING FOR IT. All of your replies have made me really excited. I want to jump even more. I've been calling and emailing my family and friends to come to dropzone.com . They can't believe how many of you responded to my post. At first they thought I was crazy to skydive. Now, they are almost as excited as I am. I am glad I found dropzone.com. YOU FEEL LIKE MY FAMILY TOO. T H A N K S!!!!

Hi everyone, it's Me again. I hope to make jump #1 next week or the following one from Cross Keys in NJ. I don't want to sound stupid, but what do I wear. My ability to move my legs and feet is minimal. Should I plan on taping my legs together so that they don't move uncontrollably. I wear orthopedic "boots" on my feet 24/7. They are only held onto my feet with velcro strap. I'm afraid that the velcro won't keep them on my feet. Would sneakers be a better choice? I have a splint on my left hand and forearm. It too has little movement. Should I zip it inside a jacket? My right arm works okay, but my right hand doesn't. Should I zip it inside my jacket too. Please help me with how I should dress and prepare. I'm not going to let what I can't do or move spoil this exciting day. I'm GOING FOR IT. All of your replies have made me really excited. I want to jump even more. I've been calling and emailing my family and friends to come to dropzone.com . They can't believe how many of you responded to my post. At first they thought I was crazy to skydive. Now, they are almost as excited as I am. I am glad I found dropzone.com. YOU FEEL LIKE MY FAMILY TOO. T H A N K S!!!!

I am wriing this post today because I am excited about making my first jump.I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis since 1979. The idea of skydiving has been in the back of my head even before my diagnosis. Every once in a while the thought of jumping would move to the front. I've spoken to my doctors, and they all are very excited about me skydiving. They told me to “GO FOR IT”. I wanted to jump in March on my 45th birthday, but it was too cold here in Philadelphia. I am no longer able to walk and must use a power wheelchair to get around,. MS may have taken away my ability to walk, but it hasn’t taken away my ability to enjoy myself. I am ready to “GO FOR IT”. I should be jumping in the next couple of weeks. Sorry about this long post, but I just found this site and I had to express my enthusiasm.