freethefly

Moved here to Mt. Vernon for the DZ. Everyone welcomes you as if they have known you all their lives. Colorful people from wild to mild and that in between. RW to Freeflying and Hybrids. No matter what your level is, you can rest assured that someone will jump with you. The friendliest DZ in Mo. where safty is always the number 1 concern.

I had great AFF instructors, Bram Clemmen and Elle Oldham, two highly regarded skydivers. I felt their confidence and felt no fear what so ever. I believe that how you feel about your instructor has alot to do with your own feelings. If you do not feel great about your instructor then your own level of confidence may falter leaving doubt. It is your money and your life, go for the best. (in no way am I implying that there are bad AFF instructors as the people who certify them would not do so if they felt they could not handle a situation. I am saying though, choose an instructor who you feel comfortable with. If you are older you may feel more at ease with an instructor in your age range and vice versa) "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I know that there are more HIV+ jumpers out there than just 3. I did hear of an HIV+ lady jumper at Heterochat.org but never could not catch up to her. Any ladies out there who are poz and jumping, contact me

I am not gay and don't worry what people think. I was a hardcore biker (patch holder, 1percenter) major drug user and used women for only two things, wash the bike and give me sex. I was very ignorant before I found out I was poz. Made all sorts of jokes about people with AIDS. Thought it was funny as hell that gay people were dropping like flies. Ironic that I shed my prejudice only after contracting the very thing I praised. Poetic justice. Yeah, chance of an all poz formation is extremely low. I personally don't give a shit if people know my status. If they don't like it, don't jump with me. I believe HIV made me a better person. If they knew me before HIV, believe they WOULD have been scared of me. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

[I was trying to state the less obvious. I would hope you would know that you and everyone else can become HIV+ by screwing. I'm married. That is why I said RAPE, that is why I said 3rd world Country. Ever hear of your husband cheating on YOU.(by all means I am not saying that he does) How about having a one time fling. DO NOT say it cannot happen to you. My last girlfriend contracted her pesky pet from her cheating husband. Anything can happen as we are not in complete control of our lifes. Alot of people have contracted through a cheating spouse. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I am shocked that someone believes they are immune to contracting HIV. DAMN!!!!! The poll shows the ignorance in society. Most believe that if your not gay or shooting dope your safe. Well, I am not gay and never shared a needle, yet, I have been with an extremely high number of women and can count on one hand how many times I used a condom. This shows my ignorance and now I am paying and it is not fun. I have exhausted a wide spectrum of HIV meds that no longer work to fight the virus. I have complications that at times force me to leave the dropzone. When it gets hot I have major problems as I at times have fever for no apperent reason. I night sweat a lake most nights. I cannot get my weight back upto the 230 I carried well, I seem to be stuck at 160lbs. Without an appetite stimulant I usually do not eat. When on meds my intestines are constantly blocked, eating a handful of pills day in and out is like swallowing cement mix. Not to mention the side effects and other complication caused by the pills. Don't worry they give you more pills to take to cover those problems. And what about expense? Filed bankruptcy, sold one of my bikes (fucking miss my beautiful baby, would have killed for her). I fear anyone touching my blood even though contraction is low in this form due to that HIV dies in open air. I have only been with 2 women, both poz, since Feb 95. No neg chick go out with me. Truth is I would not feel comfortable and would fear infecting her. You get this virus and you change. People around you change. BE AWARE. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I, having being HIV+ for 9 years and jumping for 7 years, I have yet to hear any talk of getting an all POZ formation in the sky! Cancer patients do it. Amputees do it. Even the blind have done it. Why cannot we do it? Is it the stigma of AIDS. Do you fear you will be rejected by your peers? I have seen alot of people in this sport jump from partner to partner like they were trying different planes at the convention. Not alot or nothing at all is spoken of AIDS in the sport. Only through awarness can the spread be stopped. I am not saying that people who know of their status are intentionly spreading the virus (let's hope not)in this sport. But the fact remains that those unaware can and do spread this virus in any/all segment of society. Us poz jumpers can do something to bring another light on the issue and help push it out front and also show another side of skydiving as the other groups have done. Anyone interested in discussing this please post. ***"to do the same thing over and over and to expect that the results will change, is Insanity", Albert Einstein "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I know exactly the feeling. Feb. 1995 34 y/o I tested poz for HIV after spending 7 months in Mexico. Hey, what can I say, the ladies were HOT. Well, anyways I never knew that I could be so weak as to try and take my own life. After all, I was at one time a 230 pound biker. Not a freaking RUB (RichUrbanBiker) or some yahoo who rode 100 miles a year for status. I was a 1%, wore colors and affiliated with several organizations. I was fucking badass and mean. No where as mean as a little virus can be. I went from 230 to under 150 pounds the last two months in Mexico. I blamed this on the heavy coke use. I got tested 8 months after leaving Mexico. I was extremely sick. T-cells at 150, viral load through the ceiling and depression so deep I spiraled in and crashed hard. I would eventually try to take my life 6 times. 2 drug overdoses (had a high tolerance to drugs), 2 gassings in my bronco (tailpipe,gardenhose, cops ound me once, neighbor the 2nd time),one hanging (the rope broke), slit my wrist ( wouldn't answer phone, sister called the police). WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SKYDIVING, you say. Well, all through this a kept remembering the best moment in what was a very violent life was a tandem I did in 1993. I wished I could go back to that moment and continued again on a new path. Well, from the last paragraph one would think I am not very good at sucide, considering that I tried 6 times and failed an equal amount. One success would had tipped the balance. But why mess with a perfect record. Anyways, after some intence pychotherapy with Dr. Giaoni at the V.A., I knew it was time to go back to the place that will change my life forever more. I feel sorry for the man who killed himself but even more for his family. Also, anyone else contemplating an altering event that will change everyone they know. When you are dead it is the living left to wonder why. I only hope that if you do try to take your life you will be as unsuccessful as I was. Life sucks, look at the world around you, it is at war. It is a violent world but there is a place that I found that brings me so much peace words are dull to discribe it. Find your peace and embrace it. Spread the love. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young