Today Don and LaVon left the park. It was sad to see them go and we'll really miss them. LaVon is so much fun to be with and I'm glad to have her as my friend. Once again, lots of hugs and handshakes and tears.
They weren't the only ones to leave today. George and Nancy Reid also went on their way as did Pam and Lee Fairchild. All friends and all to be missed.
It seems like every time we looked there was another rig making its way out of the park. There aren't many of us left and another half dozen are leaving tomorrow. Us included.
This afternoon we thought it best to get the taxes out of the way. I was really afraid we were going to owe this year since we didn't have mortgage interest to deduct. I was quite surprised and happy that we don't owe anything!
Bob has all the outside things done now and I still have to put the bubble wrap in between the dishes before we can pull out in the morning. We hope to be pulling out by mid-morning. We have the Internet guy scheduled to come first thing in the morning to remove the equipment we have for our connection.
We'll be heading to Phoenix tomorrow to an RV shop to have the wheel bearings repacked and the brakes checked out. It will be an easy run as we are only an hour away.
It may be a day or two before I get to post again because I don't know if there will be a Wifi connection at the RV place or not.
Monday, March 31, 2008
3/30/08 Quail Run is in BLOOM!
I got the laundry out of the way early this morning while Bob continued packing and re-packing the basement compartments. The outside work is nearly done now.
While in the laundry I saw Lenny and Ginny Dexter with a large birthday balloon heading towards the Carnaval Room where church was being held. They told me it was for Nancy Reid and I followed to get a picture. Yes, I even take the camera when I do laundry!
LaVon and I took a walk around the park today because we heard there were some cactuses blooming and the blooms only last 24 hours. We wanted to be sure to get pictures of them. I don't know what kind of cactus this is but it is just beautiful!
More pretty flowers from Quail Run.
This is a Bird of Paradise Tree.
The Oleander bushes are in bloom.
We saw a lot of these around the park and I said to LaVon, "C'mon LaVon, make them bloom". I figured since she was the preacher's wife she would have some extra pull.
Well, wouldn't you know we turned the corner and saw THIS!
It's the ONLY bloom like this in the whole park! You can't tell me He doesn't listen!
Here's a picture looking up from under a palm tree.
3/29/08 The Peacock Takes His Leave
The crowd gathered. Probably 20 - 25 of us. We gathered in the street this morning because Don, commonly known as the Peacock of the Park and his lovely wife, Billie, are leaving us today. They are heading home to Idaho. We all hate to see them go. They are so much fun and just such nice, nice people.
Lots of hugs and handshakes all around and a few tears were shed. I admit, I cried. I really hated to see them go.
So long Mr. & Mrs. Peacock....we enjoyed you so much! We're going to make sure our paths cross again.
Bob was able to get a picture of the quails that have eluded my viewfinder so far. There all over the park now but I never seem to have the camera handy when they
are. See the topknot on their heads?
I'm really hoping to get a close up before we leave.
3/29/08 So Long Friends... con't.
Today was a hard day. We had to wave so long to so many today.
Dave and Darlene Sutton left for home. It was especially hard to say so long to my puzzle pal Darlene. Dave...wow, this was another hard one. Dave and I have a special friendship. He dishes it out and I dished it right back. We each got our share of digs in to each other but if the truth be told, I got the best of old 2.4 most days. I really don't expect anyone to understand that but Dave will know when he reads this. Hey Dave,,,,,GOTCHA! This is one couple that we truly hope we cross paths with again. Lots of hugs and handshakes for sure and quite a few tears.
We had this picture taken....the girls in the "hood".
It had warmed up considerably and LaVon, Don and I decided to go to the pool There were quite a few there and you won't believe what happened! I thought this was so behind me!
I'm floating around the pool with two noodles, those float thing-y's and there was a pretty stiff breeze and about 10 people in the pool with us. So I'm floating, holding onto the noodles and all of sudden I got seasick! Watching the waves in the pool from all the movement just did me in. I ran to the ladies room and that's all I'll say about that! I guess I'll have to take Dramamine before swimming from now on!
So I'm sitting on the side of the pool, not daring to go in anymore and Nancy (Killer) asked me to take a picture of her and this paper cut out her grandson sent her. She is supposed to take a picture doing something and then a write a story about when and where the picture is taken. So I took the picture and then decided I wanted one of my own so I ran home to get the camera. So here's Nancy with Smashed Sam, Paper Paul, Skinny Steve, FLAT STANLEY! I knew I'd get the name sooner or later.
This evening Marlene, Nancy, Arlen and Diane and I went into Casa Grande to attend a play in the little theater there. Now I'm talkin' a little theater! It was a nearly packed house and there were only 35 of us there. We saw the play "Beyond Karaoke". It was an amateur production but it was enjoyable. There was a lot of audience participation with singing and hand clapping. A good time was had by all.
NOTE: This is a continuation of the next post. I published the next one before finishing it and when I got back to it I had dates all mixed up, but hey, it happens.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
3/28/08 Our Last Activities Function
Today the Activities Staff held its last activity. We put on a breakfast for the volunteers of the park. Egg casseroles, pancakes, fresh fruit and juice for about 80 people.
Everyone busy at work.
Lee, taking his last bag of garbage to the trash. This seemed to always be his job.
Bonnie and John came to the breakfast and then pulled out afterwards. It was hugs and handshakes all around.
It was a work day for the White Team, our next to last. We spent our time making labels for the mail room in case we get mail after we leave. We also made our "cards" with all of our information on it such as address, cell phone numbers, email address and blog info to share with our departing friends so that we can keep in touch with each other.
There are huge gaps now where RV's once parked. More and more are leaving everyday.
3/27/08 Getting Close to the End
Today even more RV's pulled out. It sounds like there will be a mass exodus this coming weekend.
Today we just hung around the park. Bob worked on finishing up the caulking project he had going and started putting our "outside things" away.
This evening, sixteen of us went out to dinner at Chris', a new restaurant that opened in Arizona City a couple of weeks ago.
Our next door neighbors, Don and LaVon arrived a little later than the rest of us as they got caught up in a terrible traffic jam on their way back to the park from a visit in California. LaVon arrived with camera in hand.
It was nice to be able to share dinner with friends that we've made this year. We're sure going to miss this bunch.
When we got back to the park Bonnie and I went to the Cantina to make some goodies. We took large tortillas and sprayed them with Pam and then sprinkled cinnamon sugar and cut them into large chip sizes and baked them for 8 - 9 minutes. YUMMY! Bonnie and I have become very close and I'm really going to miss her. The good thing is we'll see her and John again in May as we head to the Grand Canyon.
3/26/08 Mud Fish and an Owl
Remember....you can double click pictures to make them bigger.
I start this post out with this picture so that you know what I'm talking about. Above is a picture of the retention pond here in this park. Of course it isn't filled with water right now because we haven't had rain in quite a while now. But when we do, it does fill.
The story goes that about ten years ago two winter residents, who evidently were quite the jokesters, played a trick on quite a few here in the park. The retention pond was quite full and these two fellows went into Casa Grande and bought a half dozen, intact, fish from the seafood department of one of the grocery stores. They brought these dead fish home and put them on a stringer. While no one was looking they gathered their lawn chairs, fishing poles and the stringer of dead fish and set up at the retention pond. They put the stringer in the water and sat down with the fishing poles in hand and waited. It wasn't long before winter residents strolled by, probably snickering at these two fishing in the retention pond. When asked if they caught anything they replied yes and brought up the stringer of fish. Well, everyone was amazed and asked what kind they were. They were told they were Mud Fish. They further explained that Mud Fish burrow down into the mud and when the retention pond fills again they make their way up into the water to swim. Word spread quickly around the park about the Mud Fish. Soon the retention was surrounded with men standing shoulder to shoulder, fishing rods in hand, all waiting to catch their share of the Mud Fish.
The reason I went to the retention pond was to get a picture of this little owl.
He sits here quite often and I've heard there is a baby somewhere close by. I guess he's standing guard. He doesn't seem to very afraid at all as one of the fella's here in the park has gotten close enough to pet him. Someone walking their dog came by when I trying to get closer and it flew up to this perch on top of a brick enclosure.
Evening time brought a birthday party for Darlene.
We had a sing along and just listened to the three guitarists, Wilf, Pat and Bill Turner and Don on harmonica. Pat let everyone know that Nashville has one of the songs Bill wrote and we're all hoping that it gets into the right hands and gets picked up by one of the superstars. We'll be able to say we knew Bill Turner back when.... We've heard a couple of the songs Bill has written now and I'm surprised he hasn't been discovered long before now.
.
This was a fun night.
3/25/07 Quail Run Jump Club
I didn't see our friend Lee until today. He also did "the jump" at the Skydive Arizona field but he did his yesterday. He would do it again! He really liked his jump and didn't have a problem with spinning at all. He obviously didn't jump with Mateo!
We did get a picture with us wearing our Been There, Done That, Got the T-shirt shirts.
It's really getting warm here in Arizona. By two in the afternoon its pretty much too hot to do any kind of work outside in the sun.
As we walk around the park we can see where park models are all buttoned up for the season waiting for their winter residents to return next fall. Every day a few more RV's are gone.
Winter is winding down here in Arizona City and it makes me sad. We've had such a great time here this winter and soon we'll be saying so long to all the great friends we made here.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
3/27/08 21,000 Who's It Gonna Be?
I can't believe the counter is turning so quickly!
21,000 hits is just around the corner and is going to be hit today. Is it you? I'm always curious to know who it is.
I came back on here about one half hour from when I posted this message. I came on to add a comment I just received to the page where I posted the messages I had gotten about the jump. Lo and behold, I'M # 21,000!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
3/24/08 A Visit With Family
Bob and I have been here in Arizona for the past four and half months, situated halfway between Phoenix and Tucson. I happen to have cousins in both of those cities. Do you think I have seen them? We've talked about it.
That's the trouble with retirement, you're so BUSY!
I finally touched base about a week and half ago with Jeanette, my cousin Mike's wife. I called about something completely different but the fact that we're short timers here in Arizona City came up and also the fact that we haven't visited them nor them us. Finally a plan was set in place. Jeanette would call Patricia in Tucson and see when they were available and check it against their own schedule and then call us and see if we were available when it was convenient for all of them. Since we were in the middle it was decided that they would travel to Casa Grande and we'd meet them at Mimi's Cafe for a late lunch/early supper.
So today was the day! I got to see family! It was so great seeing them. I haven't seen these four since we were all together when Mike and Jeanette got married a couple of years ago.
We had a very nice lunch, getting caught up on what we all have been doing and what our plans are for the summer.
Afterwards they came back here and we sat on the patio and told stories of long ago and played a lot of "remember when". What a great way to spend an afternoon! We laughed A LOT!
All too soon they had to leave but not before our neighbor LaVon was recruited to
take a picture of us. Thanks neighbor! (L to R) Me and Bob, Jeanette and Mike, Patricia and Bob)
We'll see Mike and Jeannette again before we leave because we have to take the rig to the shop to get the brakes checked out before we tackle these mountains. Since we're going to Phoenix to do that we'll spend our time with them.
This was just the best day....spending it with family.
3/23/08 The Day After
I'm still queasy.
It's really getting warm here in Arizona now. We're hitting mid to high 80's everyday now. We are very thankful there is NO humidity.
I received lots of emails and comments on the blog about yesterday. I'd like to share them with you.
From my cousin Kathy:
YOU ARE NUTS! .....REALLY REALLY NUTS!....I CHECK OUT YOUR SITE BEFORE I LOOKED AT THE EMAIL....OMG.....Did you like it, or did you keep your eyes CLOSED the entire time.
From our friend Bonnie who we do Buffett concerts with:
You go girl!!!!! My younger sister is married to an instructor so she has jumped out of a couple of perfectly good airplanes. I have a standing invitation to try it when I go home next.
It might be a couple years before I get the courage up to go home!
From my forever friend Sue:
Snookie,
What the HELL were you thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can not believe you did that! I just can not believe you did that!!, again I can not believe that you jumped out of perfectly good plane. Good for you. You have more guts then I do.
Sue
From Carl and Sandy, my good friends here in the park:
Lot of people said they were not sure they would do that....YOU DID IT!!! CONGRATULATIONS.........SANDY AND CARL
From my online friend Paul:
Sky diving looked like fun! I read the whole blog. Nice job!!
From my online friend Skan:
Happy Easter! Unbelievable jump! WOW!
skan
From Ann, a good friend from our Florida park last year.
AWESOME!
From my forever friend Dianne:
I'm jealous.
From our friend in Delaware, Aggie:
You go girl. I would never have done that!!!! You're the woman!!!!!!!!!
From Louise, a good friend from our Florida park last year.
Good for you!!!!!!! I have always wanted to do the same thing. I guess I had better get going and do it soon!!! I am proud of you!!! What a trip!! You "go girl"!!! What an experience!!!
Louise
From Vern, a friend of ours from Delaware:
Hello!!
Congratulations. I can't wait to talk to your cousin Kathy about this. Two things- What else do you have on your "bucket list"? and What in the world did Bill and Doris say? (Note: Bill and Doris are my parents.)
Oh well, you two kids are living it up; living the life that thousands of others wish they could live.
Via Con Dios,
Vern
From my sister-in-law, Michelle:
I cant believe you actually did it. Good job!!!
From my forever friend, Elaine:
I am so glad you had the courage to do it!! I've thought about doing that but quickly put the thought out of my mind! It had to be so exciting! I suppose the closest I'll ever come to doing something like that would be the "Tower of Terror" in Disney World. Went on it once and can't get myself to go back on.
From Nancy, my good friend from our Florida park last year.
Hi there,
Finally got to read some of your journey without being dropped from the internet every 10 minutes. Girl it looks like you had a great time jumping. That's something Len has always said he'd like to do, I told him don't wait for me, if you do you'll never go.
From Cindy, a Delaware friend who actually lives in Maryland.
All I can say is you have a pair of BIG ones. Can't wait to see the video. I was telling
Ian and he said you go Snookie. He wants to do it to.
Not for me though. I like my feet on the ground.
Cindy
From Cathy, we grew up together and have stayed in touch all these years.
I never laughed so hard in my life. You brought tears to my eyes! I loved the head shot at the end. I wanted to give you a big hug. Bravo!
Love,
Cathy
From Jo, a blogging buddy:
Hi Snookie,
Yes it is a wonderful lifestyle we lead. But WHAT WERE YOU THINKING! Kudos for doing it, but I think I'll stick to watching from the ground. What on earth made you do that? You are brave, and I bet it was actually fun, but I don't think I could go through with it.
Thanks for sharing.
From Charlotte, our Delaware friend.
OK, so I don't think I'm doing that.
From Margo, my aunt in Delaware
Snookie,
You definitely ARE crazier than I ever thought you were!!!!! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING????? I can't even climb a 6 foot ladder!! What a life you and Bob are living. You two know how to do it better than any of us. Continue to have fun - but stay on the GROUND for a while.Take care (and I mean that!)...Margo
From Walt, my RV'ing buddy:
Girl, you gotta be nuts, completely and totally goofy. 25 years I spent in the Air Force and was taught how to eject from a fighter plane and from a heavy bomber, but, thank God, I never had to.
But YOU! You went there and did that and now you have the T-shirt.
Good Going!!
Walt
I also received an e-card from Ruby a very special lady. Thanks Ruby!
As you can see I've had lots of well wishes and congratulations. HOWEVER, while I got lots of comments here in the park the "take" on the jump was something entirely different. As I ran into the few who weren't at the field on Saturday I heard comments like this: Hey Snookie, heard you jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and threw up!" Uh, well, er, yeah I did. Some of the residents here seem to have taken great delight in that fact. I'm getting teased quite a bit but I know its all in fun.
3/22/08 The Rest of the Day
We made our way back to the park as we had two BBQ's to get ready for.
At 4 p.m. I made an appearance at the Workamper's BBQ that Jeannie Budd the Park Manager hosted. Still feeling pretty queasy I didn't eat anything. Besides, when I left here I was going to the Olympic Lane (what we call our street since so many of us won medals in the QR Olympics) farewell BBQ.
I stayed about an hour and as expected most of the talk I was engaged in had to do with the JUMP. I received lots of congratulations and a lot of "you're more stupid braver than me.
Now it was time to go home and party with our neighbors.
Everyone brought their own meat to grill and a dish to share. As usual, we had tons of food. These people here sure know how to cook! We brought brats for Bob and a steak for me. We contributed Copper Penny Salad, a carrot dish which went over very well.
After all of our tummies were full the entertainment started. Wilf, our next door neighbor had written a song about Don. You all know Don by now, there's no need to explain who he is.
Wilf started singing his song about Don and I have to tell you we all thoroughly enjoyed it. I've typed the lyrics below and it is sung to the tune of the Beverly Hillbillies theme song. Let me explain one thing. Don bets a quarter on just about every event of competition he's in.
Come and listen to a story about a man named Don
Comes from southern Idaho where the bullshits mighty strong
I met him in a land where there's heat and lots of sun
A place in Arizona, a great place called Quail Run
Well the first thing he tells me is Wilf I am the man
At shooting and at ping pong I think I'm rather grand
I beat old Steve and Dale at shooting all the time
Cause I put some blanks in their box
And their quarters are all mine
Now ping pong is another game that Donny plays just fine
But neighbor Billy Turner kicks his ass most all the time
But Donny told me Willy wait till there's money on the line
The boy from northern Idaho will go down and the gold will be all mine
Now at pool he told me he was the tops and never did get beat
The Olympics are a comin' and all takers he'd defeat
But he met the man from Canada whose stick was pretty hot
So Donny was beaten badly, he was lucky to get a shot
But a finer man you will not meet from anywhere I know
He puts a smile on all of us and gives us quite a show
So when I leave this park and head north to Summerland
I'll miss the Peacock of the Park cause he is very grand!
Well, let me tell you, Wilf had to do several encores of this little ditty because we all just loved it!
Reactions to Wilf's song.
Kathy, our neighbor brought out her laptop and I brought over the DVD of the JUMP and everyone watched it. I couldn't watch it all, the spinning part of the free fall is just too much for me. I'm still pretty queasy.
We lasted until dark and then things pretty much broke up and we all went home.
I called my parents to let them know what I had done that day. My dad wanted no part of it, it seems, because as soon as I told him he said, "Here's your mother, tell her". Mom said something to the effect of, "What are you, stupid?" I would love to have been a fly on the wall when we hung up to hear what they had to say to each other.
So there's my day. It's one I'll never ever forget. And one that I never expected to take 3 parts to tell about.
I hope you enjoyed living through the JUMP with me.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
3/22/08 The Jump (Part 3)
OK, it's time to get this show on the road.
Take notice of the red bandanna tied around my leg. This was so the Quail Run spectators could pick me out as I hurtled towards earth I came in for a landing.
Now I know how Britney Spears feels!
Mateo comes in for one last photo-op.
It's time to get on the shuttle to go out to the plane.
Waving goodbye so long!
All aboard! I'm smiling but boy o boy, if you could read my thoughts!
OK, so I'm on the plane and we're packed in like sardines. We were the first ones on so we went to the front of the plane and sat down on a long hard bench behind the pilot. Wes is across the aisle taking video of me and Mateo and of the others on the plane. So we're all settled and we were packed in! Now my anxiety attack begins. This nylon outfit I'm wearing is hot on top of the warm weather we're having and the harness is TIGHT! I'm EXTREMELY claustrophobic! I'm wedged in between Mateo and this big guy next to me. Their arms are resting in front of mine! I'm pinned! OH NO! This isn't good. I can't breathe! I told myself, big breaths, deep breaths.... Wes saw I was having a hard time and kept asking me if I was OK. You'll see on the video when its posted that I keep saying "I'm Ok" but to myself I'm saying, "Snookie, what the hell are you doing?"
The plane seems to take no time at all to climb up into the sky.
Mateo tells me to turn sideways on the seat keeping one foot on the floor and putting my right leg on the bench and keep my knee bent and foot flat on the bench. Is he nuts? In this outfit? With this tight harness on? Somehow I do it. Oh no! A cramp in my leg! I manage to reposition and it goes away. Whew! Mateo is starting to hook our harnesses together now and I'm concerned that the hooks won't hold. He assures me that the hooks will hold 2500 pounds. Good! That makes me feel better! He tightens the harness more. Geez Louise, Mateo, you're cutting off my air!
Another plane comes up next to us and starts discharging its fools that are jumping out of a perfectly good plane passengers. Mateo says with joy in his voice, "Look Snookie, in a few minutes that will be us! I started praying.
OK, we're close to the drop zone. (WoW, I never thought I'd type those words!) The people on the other side of the plane will go first. Mateo is giving me instructions on what to do when its our turn. He tells me when we get to the gaping hole in the side of the plane door that he'll tell me to get into a catcher's stance and then to cross my arms in front of me. At this point we'll start the "count" and we'll rock back and forth on each number. And remember to keep your back arched! OK, I've got this. Next he takes my hand and puts it on what feels like a golf ball that is attached to his waist. He says that when he gives me the signal after we jump that I should reach for that and pull hard! When I do the parachute will open. WWHHHAAATTTT? I'm opening the chute??? You're giving ME that responsibility? He assures me that if I have a problem he'll help me. He better or I'm gonna be really mad if we free fall all the way back to earth! We've reached the proper altitude now, 13,000 feet. Got that??? 13,000 FEET!
My plane is starting to empty. Mateo says we have to scoot down the length of the bench now. I'm thinking to myself, "Mateo, I'm in a skintight suit, with a harness that is cutting off my air, I have a leg that can go into a muscle cramp at any second again, my heart is beating a thousand beats a minute, I can see human beings in front of me fall out of sight and you want me to scoot darn near the length of plane with a 200 pound man attached to me?" But scoot I did. Actually, he pushed from behind I just kinda went along for the ride.
We're next. Wes, the video guy goes out but hangs on to the side of plane so he can film us jump. Just how does one hang on to the side of plane at this speed?
We stand up and we're in front of the door. Mateo tightens the harness yet again. There's too much happening at this point for me to feel fear. In fact, at this point I'm not feeling anything. I listen intently for instructions and just do as I'm told. Then I hear, "Catcher" and I automatically went into the stance. Next came, "Cross your arms" and I did that. He then yells over the roar of the plane engine and wind, "Count". ONE and we rock, TWO and we rock again. I was intent on rocking for the third time but Mateo pushed us out of the plane at two and a half! WAIT! isn't everything always on the count of three? What happened to three? I paid for a count of three!
We started falling. "Mateo, grab the doorway, I wanna go back, I changed my mind! Too late! We're falling at 120 miles per hour! I've never been in a car that traveled 120 MPH and here I am free falling at that speed.
I honestly can't describe the feeling that falling that fast gives you. Its terrifying and its exhilarating, all at the same time. It's not a feeling I want to experience again, I can tell you that!
I didn't even feel the little chute open.
Mateo kept yelling "SMILE!" and "GIVE A THUMBS UP!"
OK, so this isn't so bad, I managed to wave and give a thumbs up and I even smiled. Then Mateo did me wrong! He put us into a spin. I watched the different colored squares on the earth go round and round and round. Oh darn, I forgot to tell him I get seasick, car sick if I'm in the back seat and that I can't do amusement park rides like I used to. I want down and I want down NOW! Think about it, we're falling at 120 MPH and spinning in a circle at the same time! I'm not feeling too good at this point. I'm yelling, "Don't do that!" meaning the spinning. (When you see the video you can read my lips when I say that!)
Here we are in the spin.
I can't post anymore pictures of this spinning, I'm getting queasy all over again. You'll have to trust me that we went around and around and around. Excuse me while I go outside and get some air. I'll be back in a few minutes.
OK, I'm back. So we're falling, falling, falling and I finally get the signal that its time to pull the chute open. YES! He can't spin me anymore! I search frantically for that golf ball thing-y!
Mateo lends me a hand.
It's pulled here we go!
How can Mateo look so calm? Like he's enjoying this????
....and it opens! There is a God!
I'm sure you've all seen pictures of parachutes opening before and you've seen how it seems like the skydivers are getting sucked up into the sky. Well, believe me, that's exactly what its like! Its quite a jerk when that chute goes up and that harness is now tighter than ever! Of course, Mateo has to make some adjustments on the harness and he's pulling straps even tighter. Let me put it to you this way. If all these straps were around my waist and tightened as much as they were I'd have a four and half inch waist!
It's open! We're falling a much slower pace now but still not as slow as I'd like it to be.
There's land! Legs up, relax, pull down on the chute straps.....
I don't want to land in the dirt. I don't want to land in the dirt.
Almost back on the ground.
Just a few feet to go and I am so glad! Oh do I feel sick to my stomach!
Back on Mother Earth! Hooray! Take note how everyone is smiling...except me.
When you see the video you'll be able to read my lips in response to Wes' question of how was it. I replied, "I'm going to get sick". And I promptly did.
Now I did this on an empty stomach so I didn't really have anything "to get rid of". I did hear the gasp of the crowd and found out later that my friends thought I couldn't breathe.
Mateo stands with me to make sure I'm alright.
And I thought I was until I took that first step, then down I went. I think the enormity of what I just did caught up with me.
Bob and Don come out to the field.
.
They were asked to leave the field,,,I guess for insurance purposes. Once he knew I was OK, they left the field. Our friend Elizabeth, brings water.
Mateo loosened the harness and I immediately felt better!
Back on solid ground and I'm a happy camper!
I walked back across the field to the cheers and clapping of my many friends who came to watch. It wasn't quite the show I wanted to give and I do thank them all for sticking in there when the wait got so long.
Mateo gathered the chute and gave a big smile. Thank you so much for getting me down safely Mateo!
Does this look like someone who is glad to have two feet firmly planted on the ground?
I was glad to get this jumpsuit off!
I was given a certificate, a bumper sticker and was soon handed my video and still shot CD's.
Am I glad did this. Yes. Would I do it again? NO! Maybe if I had been in my 20's when I did this for the first time, but not now.
I have to give a huge thank you to LaVon Baker, my "ground photographer". I'm glad I didn't have to wrestle my camera from your hands. And LaVon, thanks for not one picture of a dead tree. (Readers, I'll explain this later.)
So all is said and done and I'll close with this....
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, GOT THE T-SHIRT!
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