RevvyAiny

I am a United Methodist minister and a (retired) attorney. Theater major in undergrad, J.D. degree and Master of Divinity degree.

Same here -- the support came entirely from older skydivers who have been around, seen a lot and have their own stories to tell about heeding that instinct. Their understanding and encouragement helped me face down the collective "what's wrong with you" I was getting fr other corners. If any if you are reading this -- thank you!Quote

Glad you found a home you are comfortable with, Daniel! I'll look forward to meeting you one day. Look at my profile pic and you will see how readily I tend to stand out in a skydiving crowd! BTW, in another life I was an unemployed actress. One of the SDLI rookies does television and movie production. This is information with no point. Just sayin' ...

Hi there. Welcome. Just want to offer you some encouragement. I am a written exam away from my B license. Twice during my AFP progression I chose to land with the plane rather than jump. If you are not feeling confident, then you are not feeling confident and pushing through is not a good idea. I had several skydivers, including my AFP instructor, encourage me to honor that feeling of "not now; not today." It could save your life sometime. Something I did to help my head game: I ordered a kind of self-hypnosis CD by a sports psychologist from Amazon.com. It helped immeasurably. I also learned to channel any anxiety about jumping into positive things: checking my gear, rehearsing the dive, deep breathing. Singing also helps Hang in there!

Hi. I also jump at SDLI. Our last day of jumping for the season is November 18th. But you can probably finish up at Skydive Cross Keys or Skies the Limit if you choose not to go up to the Ranch. Welcome to the family.

Quick update: Got my A license on Wednesday! Almost started crying after my check out jump. Beer helped.

I completely agree with you: that moment of exit into the air -- God's breath -- is a time of intensely intimate communion. On my knees in prayer, I invariably wind up expressing my wants and needs to God. In the air, I can do nothing but listen for the divine voice and lay in the everlasting arms and rejoice in the changes that this all makes in me. Every time I return to earth I am a little more changed. This is a spiritual journey for me unlike any other. Thank you for your words. They have encouraged me to say more broadly what a deeply transformative experience this is for me. Peace to you.

Thanks, its on my list to get accomplished ASAP. Its a requirement now for the B, but I figured, given my challenges, sooner is better than later. I think my issue, though, is perception and timing. Skydiving is the first and only sport in which I have ever participated. No frame of reference for skills others probably take for granted. I will jump more and land more and conquer it!

Thanks! Still really excited, but trying to temper it to find some balance. Very into skydiving as an expression of my spiritual self. (Except I am on a renewal leave until the end of the summer. My plans? Nothing but skydiving! So much for balance...) I hope you do make it out to SDLI. For my part, I keep asking women I don't know if they are "Sapphire." It would be nice to be correct one of these days!

Can't sleep. Thought I'd check in with an update. Did my first jump course on March 31st. Lots of frustrations with the weather and some travel for work slowed me down a bit, but I managed to graduate AFP by the middle/end of May. Working on my A now. Still experiencing weather frustrations; but I hear it comes with the territory. Learned to pack a few weeks ago. So now, if I can't jump, I pack and unpack and pack and unpack. Deadly dull, but necessary. In 15 jumps I have landed on my feet exactly once. Also have had three pretty hard landings. But I learned something (or some things) from each one, so there's that. Glad to be part of this community. Terrific journey.

My very first car was a Chrystler Newport. Circa 1963. Useless. Couldn't park it anywhere in downtown Providence, RI, where I was living, so I wound up taking the bus more often than not anyway.

I did not know your father. Had a friend or two at the boogie, and so when I read the news article on the internet it drew my attention. Your Dad's courageous act saved people's lives. I will not soon forget his name or his story. As you and your family go through this painful, challenging time, may you find comfort and support in the love of those around you -- and, if it helps you, in the arms of the Divine presence.

Very helpful. Thanks!

Thnx!

Taking AFF at my next opportunity. I am very nearsighted and can't find my glasses if I am not wearing them. I think that, rather than wrestle with contact lenses, I'd like to invest in a pair of prescription goggles. Has anyone else resorted to this option? Can you suggest characteristics I should be looking for in a product or a particular manufacturer that you find satisfactory? I'd appreciate any advice.

May 16, 1958: Connie Francis, "Whose Sorry Now?" http://youtu.be/m9FZeNOouMM

I'm totally resonating with what you've expressed. I'm a noob; this is my first off-season. Not in a position to follow the sun. So I fight most days to not wish I was somewhere in the sky. I thought the feeling would get better as time went by, but it has not. Looking for balance between real word and love for flight, but it is, as yet, elusive.

Pretty much the same as you -- except I am also working with a personal trainer and working out in a wind tunnel.

I ran shirtless with a pothead because I'm sexy like that.

I hope you have a great time. You are more brave than I: a few years back I bowed out of a group 50th birthday celebration weekend with a bunch of women I had not seen since HS. Couldn't face it, for some reason. But on FB many of my friends are folks I've known since grade school. Those arms-length interactions are much less daunting to me.

Pretty funny. Thanks for sharing. Home sick feeling sorry for myself and I needed an LOL.

A rabbi, a priest, a Baptist minister and a United Methodist pastor all walk into a bar togther and belly up to the counter. And the bartender looks them over and says, "What is this, a joke?"

I'm probably not the best person to ask. Maybe more experienced folks can weigh in. But as I think...if you do one per month, you will just about be finishing AFF by the end of the season, assuming you don't have to repeat any levels. That would mean you can't begin working on your A license until the season after that. There is nothing wrong with that...I'm just saying. For myself, what I am hoping to do is save enough money over the winter to be able to pay for everything up front. (My DZ offers a 10% discount for full prepayment in cash, so there is some incentive). If I can muster that cash, then I hope to spend every day off working through the levels. This would mean, assuming I don't need to repeat anything, that I will complete AFF by June-ish and have the rest of the summer to work toward at least my A license. Lot of talking. Hope there is an answer for you in there somewhere.