Croc

Man, you are so ready! Good luck and have fun with AFF-- from one of the older guys. (Started in the fall of 2002 at age 51.) "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

I just got my A last fall and I'm eagerly looking forward to jumping this season. I have a goal of making 100 jumps in 2004. I jump at Jerry's Flying Circus in Franklin, Indiana. Great place! Very friendly to rookies. I'm 52, and the macho vibes at "the other place" turned me off, probably because thirty years ago I used to be like that! Anyway, I just wanted to say hello, and that I've really enjoyed reading these forums. I do have a question. Anyone out there had Lasik eye surgery? How did it go? "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Took two months, not two weeks to get, as I had been told. Mike ran out of one of the colors I had ordered but never told me until I called to find out what the holdup was. I am well satisfied with the suit, but must take off points for the service.

Yes, I agree that you will not lose your fear of heights, but so what? You will love it, even if you start out frightened, you will get in and focus on what you must do--including having fun! It is definitely addicting, and very, very rewarding. I took my first jump 18 months ago at the age of 51. I am licensed now, but the most vivid experience in my life was my first skydive. Changed my life! "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

You might want to check out the video "Fly Like a Pro." John LeBlanc recommends learning to fly in deep brakes. It's a great confidence builder. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Am I the oldest first time skydiver? Fifty-one when I took my first tandem. Took me a year to get my A--I'm shooting for 100 jumps this year. Welcome--you'll love it even more as you progress! "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Well shit! And to think I was going to try that myself! "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

I have a dvd of some dude in Arizona who carries his rig out of the door and then pulls while holding onto (I think) the leg strap. Not directly related to your question but quite amazing if you think about it. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Great advice from Jeffery--breathing is essential to controlling the mind. I had a big fear of the door. I found that when I attacked the door aggresively during AFF, yelling out the hotel check, things went well. Another thing I have noticed is that fear doesn't go away, although it certainly subsides. But you can feel the fear and do your job. Good luck on the rest of your AFF. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

I published a book that didn't sell, got way down depressed and read a book to get me out of the funk. The author had you list ten things you always wanted to do but never did. I wrote the list and on the next page the author said, "Now pick the most frightening thing and do it!" Haven't been down since, but I sure have been scared, thrilled, amazed and pumped! Woohoo! "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

I used to get bruised all the time from the student rigs. Now I own one that fits, and I tighten my leg straps so tight it is hard to walk. Works for me! "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Don't get your cat declawed and then let him or her roam. (Do get it neutered/spayed.) Works for us; we have four. They actually come when we call them. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Reached down to grab my leg after I crashed my motorcycle and cut my hands on the bones sticking out of my leg. (tib/fib) Don't want to belong to no femur club. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Welcome! Join USPA, get a 2004 SIMS. Another book you might like is Skydiving in Eight Days by Miles Clark. A little dated, but still good. Also The Skydiver's Survival Guide by Kim Emerson and Marcus Antebi. Full of useful stuff for a jumper at any level. Have fun! "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

"I can't fathom your way of thinking on this subject." No problem--maybe this is my midlife crisis. After fifteen years in the NRA and other gun rights groups, I am going off the offensive. Hell, I'm even going off the defensive. You are right, but yours is just one perspective. Trust me, later on you may feel differently. It's a kind of fear, isn't it? A fear that someone is going to take something from you, in this case a "right"--a piece of fiction invented by John Locke during the Age of Reason. Even Jefferson did not believe in the phrase "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights," but Franklin convinced him to add those words. I no longer believe in any of that. And, I am not opposed to those who do. It is human nature to divide the world into halves: us and them, Christians and Jews, black and white, whuffos and skygods. It gives us a sense of identity to know who our enemies are. We are Democrats, they are Republicans. It's the same everywhere. I'm just through with all that. It's very liberating--like freefall--to let all that palaver go on without me. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

All actions have consequences. If my number comes up, so be it; I believe in life after death. Lately I have begun to think that the defensive posture of actually carrying a loaded handgun no longer fits in with my view of life, so I stopped carrying a gun. I don't expect to find myself in a situation where I might get shot at as I no longer work in dangerous neighborhoods, so it's not that big a deal. Alright, I was exagerating when I said that I'd rather be shot than shoot someone.. But shooting someone, even a criminal, is not the matter that I had thought it was all these years. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

I sold almost all of my many guns to pay for AFF and my rig. Have you ever shot anyone? It occurred to me that owning handguns and having a carry permit for two decades (I carried a gun in my work van for fifteen years) might eventually lead to someone getting shot. After thinking it over carefully for several months, I decided that I would rather be shot than shoot someone, and stopped carrying. You are of course correct that the bullshit piled on gun owners is excessive, similiar to the shit heaped on bikers in the form of helmet laws, except that the right to bear arms is protected by the constitution. I have decided that any "rights" I possess have not been granted by God but by man. The hell with that. I will determine what I should or should not do, according to the dictates of my conscience at the moment. No slime-spined politician speaks for me. Let it go is my attitude now. I belonged to the NRA for fifteen years, but now I'm through trying to change other people's minds. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

I'm betting you'll do just fine. Best wishes! "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy