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You just wait until 200.....I'll make you regret it. What are you on now since I really haven't jumped much lately you may even catch me....cool you, Tom and I all doing 200 same jump. You going to the funeral tomorrow??

What is the deal???? Is there a problem with being a Newbie?? It is sorta like getting your A license I guess...you're officially a skydiver be it A or D so I would think you are part of the group be you a Newbie or an addict.

Now if you aren't brain dead then maybe you won't want to jump with us!!! We openly admit it (or at least I do) I didn't mean there wouldn't be anybody there I just wanted to point out to you that your timing is really off and that lots of people would be gone. I don't know about you but I just as soon take a load of 15 as of 22....more space to spread out and sleep on the way to altitude.

Actually I think they aimed for an open area just on the other side of the runway. I'm sure it was a spectacular sight. Wonder if any pumpkins sprouted from the area???

Last October they had a Pumpkin Chunking contest at Thomaston. They didn't do it this year 'cause the cesna was broken and the otter was busy people chunkin'. Wish I could have seen it but that was before my time...

I shipped a main to England and it got ther by US Mail within a week no problem. The postal service can't track it so that is a risk and if it is lost you have 30 days wait before you can file a claim. Also make sure you mark on it returned goods when you mail it so the person picking it up won't have to pay so much in customs.

Man you really pick the weekend. If I can't jump I ain't going. I have no desire to watch the lawn mower races or go up in a balloon that I can't jump out of. Sunday is up in the air but doubtful unless something changes. The GSL is at Cedartown on Sat and if the coach is still there some people may stay for that. Who knows where the FFers will go??!! The next weekend will be much better as I know of nothing going on to keep folks away.

Hey Dutchboy...aren't you glad I was nice to you on yours?? And to think you even grabbed me and put it on my shirt. Now aren't you ashamed??? SMILE

Haven't you all heard that skydiving costs you $150 for the first jump and half your paycheck for the rest of your life??!! Unfortunately I often find I spend more than I make jumping and buying new stuff. Man I like new stuff! Monk, don't worry about affording a girl friend. Any male will tell you no matter who much money you have you can never "really afford" a girl so just go find you one you like and enjoy.

Michele's Memorial service was one of the most touching things I've even witnessed or participated in. If only everyone could have seen the people gathered from far and near...everyone with one intention, to honor Michele. Bystanders were clapping over formations, the loads gathered and did dirt dives after landing symbolizing the missing man formation, tears flowed, laughter rang out. Her family appeared to have gained some knowledge of why Michele loved skydiving so much. I hope they also realized just how much we all loved Michele. For any of you head downers just imagine a load of freeflyers actually pulling off a flawless RW dive. Michele was there in spirit and I'm sure she was laughing her head off at all of us. On the last load they scattered rose petals and a picture of Michele and I taken just before she left for Texas. The video was very touching and a fitting way to send Michele on her way because in that picture she was excited and happy which is how I want to remember her. I also had the opportunity to meet a wonderful person...the camera guy who chased Michele down after the impact with the plane and deployed her reserve chute. You are a wonderful person to have risked yourself for Michele and then to drive half way across the US just to be with us for the Memorial Service. Thank you again and "You're awesome!!" Actually I think skydivers are mostly wonderful people and I told many of them just that yesterday.

I don't know about the picture at the tunnel but am going down for a camp there Jume 23-24. I'll check it out if you wish. If you can't wait that long hit their web site....George would most likely be able to tell you anything you want to know. [email protected] As for those fake freefall scenes...those were bad, but the movie where the guy lands on the target with his rig packed up and neatly underneath him after he cuts away and doesn't pull his reserve...THAT takes talent and skill!

Way to go Vlad...best of luck. I wish you much happiness.

Sorry to say guys but it is not just a chick thing. When guys learn I skydive the fist comment is "You jump out of a perfectly good airplane!!??" Wuffo males think we are nuts. Think maybe it tries their masculinity especially if they are afraid. DZ Men are great friends but then one of you puts the moves on while I'm trying to jump...why is you can't see that a chick can get engrossed in a jump too. Thank God the guys that I jump with have finally realized that I'll flirt with them, hug and kiss them, laugh with them and even on occassion snuggle up with one of them, but they are NOT the reason I'm at the DZ. (OK granted I really really like the scenery and won't hesitate to compliment or grab it when I get a chance...like you guys don't look or grab!) The way I see it ya have two choices: 1. a wuffo girlfriend who has no clue and wants all your attention or 2. a skyckick who wants you to leave them alone while they jump (or jump with them) and have a good time. The choice is yours.

Now that everyone seems to have calmed down some, that is enough placing blame. Please don't be quick to judge the pilots (even if the investigation does find fault) because I can't imagine either of them willfully acting in a manner that they thought would cause harm to a fellow skydiver. They may not have thought out every angle for the jump, but I can't imagine them planning for this to happen. I'm sure they will both live with this for the rest of their lives. Nobody who knew Michele could have wished her harm. None of this will bring Michele back. Lets take the information that is learned from her death, apply it to accepted practices, develop a safer way to launch larger formations, and then remember Michele in a positive light. In the meantime...let's all be more conscious of what is going on around us. Check everything...everytime. Skydiving in not the safest sport by far but we can make it safer if we learn from our mistakes. But most of all remember that we are not promised tomorrow so take advantage of today.

FlyingFerret and Annonymous...may I share the poems at the memorial? Lisa

Thanks Billy...we understand that the girls will be at the Memorial Dive. Hopefully her son will also make it. Pray that all goes well.

OK here is the deal. Michele was 36 or 37 ( I can't rember if I got older or she did). She had been married to Perry for roughly 18 years. She has a son who is in college who was remaining with her brother in Atlanta. She and Perry have two daughters who are DZ rugrats. The youngest one knows more about a parachute than lots of the old timers. Michele and Perry recently divorced and she was looking to move on with life. If I remember correctly she had around 900 jumps, and had competed in the GSL last year and was on Team Relax this year. She was a very heads up skydiver who taught me lots. Michele was honored as the Most Improved Skydiver for 2000. When I was looking for a rig she was so gracious to leave one of her rigs at the DZ for me to use. Rides to altitude were entertaining with Michele as she would walk through the dive with her eyes closed in full concentration. I would watch her and couldn't help but smile because she was so engrossed in doing her best in her hobby. Michele loaned me a jumpsuit when I was looking to purchase a new one and wasn't sure if I wanted booties or not she said go get it. To some of you this may not seem like a big deal, but to me it was since I was voted the most likely to ruin a jumpsuit during my first 6 months of skydiving. She and her then husband took me out for my first jump after my solos. We even joked about how nervous I was on that jump the weekend before she left. Then we laughed heartily about the fact that I joined a pick up team for the GSL the previous weekend. After the divorce she was looking to get on with life. She worked hard to be accepted in her engineering field which was evident in the job offer in Texas. When she told me about the job offer in Texas she was nervous but also excited. She told me of her visit and how she had had such a good time jumping out there. She still planned on competing in the GSL and we had already planned flight times so that she could stay at my house when she returned. We had also talked about my coming out to Texas to visit since I used to live there and maybe together we could find some excitement and relieve some of the loneliness that would be sure to follow the move. I hate looking at my datebook now but can't bring myself to erase any of it yet. When we got the news at the DZ Sunday everyone was shocked. We found out as we were boarding the plane but nothing was conclusive so during the ride up I dismissed it as someone else because the news was that her boyfriend jumped out after her and put her under canopy. Because I knew the guy she was dating I realized that was not a possibility so it couldn't be her. Michele couldn't be gone because on my calendar I had noted that she would arrive back in Atlanta on June 7 and come down for the night then we could go to the GSL meet on the 8th and spend the night so she would be fresh for the meet on the 9th. When I walked into the hanger I realized I had fooled myself...she was gone. As I packed halfheartedly I finally had to turn around and put my back to Michele's gear box to finish packing because I realized she would never sit there and socialize with us again. There would be no more hugs or Happy Monday emails from her. I am thankful that she decided to leave the girls with their father while she settled in so they were not there to witness the accident. I can't even begin to imagine how my daughters would have reacted to seeing me under a partially inflated canopy falling to the ground. I don't know if she was able to deploy her main, but I understand that someone did actually pull her reserve but that it didn't inflate properly due to damage caused by the prop blades. (Thank you Tony for that effort.) Thank God they did not witness that horror. I'm sure it will be impressed in the minds of all who did witness it. Michele always had her girls with her at our DZ if it was her weekend with them. You would often find her talking and laughing with one of them. I am going to assume they will live with their father who is still in the Atlanta area although he no longer jumps at our DZ. The DZ is like the girls second family so I hope they will be allowed to visit some. I regret not going out in Atlanta the last Saturday we were together like we had planned. I regret not telling her how much I loved and admired her as a friend and a skydiver before we parted. I regret not thanking her more for her encouragement to continue skydiving. Yes, we want to know what happened and if it could have been prevented...not to place blame but to understand. I trust that no matter who is at fault (and I'm not placing blame) that something good will come from this tragedy. I read where lots of "little" things are at fault. The bottom line is she is gone. Nothing anyone does whether it be place blame, accept fault, or simply feel miserable will bring Michele back to us. So what can we do to keep it from happening again? What can be learned from this event that can be applied to other large formation dives that can prevent it from happening again? Only those who were there and understand what exactly happened can answer that for the rest of us.