RhondaLea

It was the final Titan launch. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Some years ago, a friend of mine started up the tower, got that feeling, and went right back down again. This was in the days that people were still jumping skydiving gear. The story, in her own words, is here: http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.skydiving/browse_frm/thread/52b9df64aca3ba84/0a38d164761b3bac?q=(antenna+OR+tower)+author:Tina+author:Marie&rnum=6&hl=en#0a38d164761b3bac Perhaps the next time, you won't feel quite so foolish. rl

Somehow I think you missed the point, and in so doing, you changed the entire meaning of what Nick wrote. I don't like it when someone takes me out of context and recasts my words. For that matter, I do not know anyone who does, so I don't expect that Nick appreciates it very much either. rl Edited for clarity, although I'm not certain it matters.

The way it was told to me, it was barely, just barely, 2. It was a long canopy ride. rl

It really happened, and as Nick mentioned above, when he jumped the WTC, he jumped a pre-packed rig. What Nick didn't mention is that the rig was packed slider-down. John had quite the canopy ride from what I understand. Nonetheless, I always liked him, and I'm very sorry to hear what he has done to himself. I'm even sorrier, though, about the little girl and her parents. rl

Kristen Reed talked to Norman and others and wrote a nice article for today's Daytona Beach News-Journal. Here are links to the online edition: http://www.news-journalonline.com/ http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/WestVolusia/03WVolWEST01042605.htm

...here, so that we can print them off and give them to Lydia. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1607824;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread Thank you.

I remember my dead friends--and sometimes people who were friends of friends of mine--every day. I've said this before, but it bears repeating. No matter what your spiritual beliefs, the only immortality any of us has here on this earth is in the hearts of those who love us. A day is not enough. rl

***The Central Florida news keeps reporting that Gus is in stable condition and alive. That was reported at 5pm florida time. Someone better make sure before a whole lot of people are terribly upset without reason. *** I kept hoping it was a repeat of the death of Manley Butler, but it isn't and News 13 finally caught up about 20 minutes ago. He's gone. Really gone. But I wish he weren't.

People forget that it's about a person...until it's their person. Both of these guys are people that I've known and worked with and said "love you" to. Gus was always kind to me--and it isn't just anyone who is always nice to the manifestor, especially when she screws up--and Bill...well, he's a real curmudgeon, but somehow, the same was true for him. They're both really wonderful people, and this is a horrible thing. My heart is broken--for them and Lydia and all of us--but I can understand someone trying to understand, even if the effort inadvertantly brings hurt. As Julia would say, "love and light" to you all. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

If you go back and read this thread, you will see that the pilot has been flying for many years. I would like to add that ALL of the pilots in DeLand are some of the finest jump pilots anywhere in the world--years of experience and all of them skydivers as well. This particular pilot is also a long-time friend of Gus. Please be mindful of the fact that the old-timers at DeLand have been through a lot together. At 600 feet, the Otter was over the runway. And at 600 feet, Gus was over the runway. Something went terribly wrong today, and it would be best for everyone if we could all just wait for more information to figure it out before we speculate about things that could hurt those who are left behind. Please. rl Edited to add: I made a stupid newbie mistake here. "600 feet" is from the press release, but that should not be taken as factual. I have heard other reports that it was not 600 feet. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Gus is gone. Details are posted in Incidents, General Skydiving and the Bonfire. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Prayers for Gus, Lydia and Bill, and everyone in DeLand who knew and loved Gus. He was a wonderful and kind human being, and we are much diminished by his loss. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I didn't see this when I started the other thread. so now I've deleted it. Between my first version of this and now, I've learned what happened, and I'm asking you all to pray or send light and healing thoughts, because he is a wonderful and good man and we will all be diminished if we lose him. The other person involved is also a very good guy, and this was just a freak accident--no one's fault, just bad luck, and way too much suffering to go around. rl P.S. If anyone sees or talks to SkyJulia please ask her to get in touch with me. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Well, it can't be dyslexia, so it must be old age. Or something. This is just a public service announcement to say that anywhere I've ever used the other number (several times) I meant 175. Thank you, Chris. Talking to him was wonderful. He's one of the best people I've ever known. Sorry to hijack your thread, Jaap, but you can have it back now, with the knowledge that the ripple effect of your near-miss was an unintended blessing for which I am profoundly grateful. rl

Passive-aggressive and hostile. Just for the record, well-experienced jumpers have been hurt there too. Enough so, that at BD'96 or '97 the Chief Ranger made pointed remarks about it. His speech actually sounded like an offer to turn a blind eye to what was going on his backyard if everyone would just please forgo the 200 and 700 footers. rl

PM sent.

193 did something similar--well, the result was similar, but the reason was not--when he took an inadvertent 7.5 second delay at Bridge Day '98. IIRC, he had line stretch at "splashdown." You're in good company. Don't do it again.

I always brought my hands up to grab my risers as soon as I let go of the pilot chute. It probably saved me from a collision or two. One time, though, something inexplicable happened, and my right riser whacked me in the face, leaving me with a bloody lip, a bruised cheek, a semi-black eye, and a bruised hand. I can't swear to it, but I think I smacked myself in the chin.

We already know you're a monkey. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Uh... What does 40 feel like?

Thank you, Julia, for posting the news. I am so relieved you're okay, Nick. On the other hand, I suppose someone had to say it. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Nick, What skreamer and trucker said. I have words of my own, but they're only for you. Love you, rl

I've started a reply to your post several times, Nick, and I'm still having trouble, so I won't try to answer your points; I'll just throw in a couple of my own. Jason is talking about buying "landing area" not "exit point." The Bridge is not for sale, and it would be difficult to enforce rules or ban jumpers. I suspect that such enforcement would be about as successful as that of official attempts at such over the years: sporadic, at best. On the other hand, setting up the land purchase as a "BASE Trust" would be a practical idea, particularly from the standpoint of liability. As for legal year-round jumping having a deleterious effect on Bridge Day, I have serious doubts for reasons I find myself unable to elucidate in a public forum. But I'm wondering if there isn't some state law that bans foot traffic. I seem to recall that pedestrians are allowed on the Bridge only on Bridge Day. Jason? Have you looked at this issue, or did I hallucinate that sign on the highway? rl

Whilst this is certainly true, so is the fact that if you delve back through the events preceding a consequence you will see that the consequence was absolutely preventable. Decisions made...consequences determined. PS sorry for disagreeing with you R. Please don't beat me up. You're a real smartass, y'know, but I've passed on the cat o'nine tails, and you'll have to beg your beating from the successor rope mistress. :) Email follows. As cleverly as you did that, I'm sure no one is paying close enough attention to what you wrote to realize what you said. What I find discouraging is that I am somehow on a "side" of this argument that I want no part of. Plainly stated, I agree with Tree about the underlying issue. I'm just not so sure as he is that the underlying issue is the issue in this case, and the examples I would use to make my argument are not such that I would choose to discuss publicly anyway. But those who rewrite--or allow the revision of--the lessons of history are doomed to forget them. [sic] Perhaps once Nick publishes and the past becomes less fluid thereby, we can stop having these arguments and simply refer to a repeat incident by chapter name or number and leave it at that. Or maybe the fatality list needs the addition of a "near miss" section. And wouldn't that be enlightening. rl