Skydiving Scare

I would never do it, but that's because I am terrified of heights. How many times have you watched the news and seen that there was a fatal car accident on a highway near your house? Do you feel foolish then, thinking about why on earth you drove you car that day, with it being so dangerous? Of course not. Everything has the potential of killing us. But still, that is a very sad accident! :noway:

I have really turned into a "doer" type of person. I am so sick of looking back and wondering WHY I didn't do this or that over the years.

I get sick of "warnings" and never doing things because they aren't safe, or because so and so knew someone who got hurt or worse...I'm tired of all the years I have held back.

I always wanted to learn how to fly. So for my birthday my husband bought me my first flying lesson. I had a blast and I do no regret the "risk" at all.

If we let fear run us, we are victims...right? Think 9/11 and flying ever again. We can be afraid or march forward. I'm a march forward type of girl...I wouldn't have it any other way.

AND...Even though we have sharks in our waters, I have already picked out my instructor and class information to take surfing lessons this Spring! I can't wait!

So which type do you want to be?

I've wanted to, and then not, and then yes. I would not be surprised if I do it someday. I have muted my adventuresome ways some since becoming a mom, but am still good to go. I say, use good judgment, what are the odds and what is it worth to you?

I have been bungee jumping off the highest legal bridge in North American (270 feet) in the early days of bungee.

I've white water rafted at least 40 times.

I bike commute. Nuff said. (There was a fatality on Friday where a school bus hit a high school sophomore biking to school. My children saw the body under the bus as they drove to school with DH. This is a route I used to take...but we moved so it's no longer part of my route. The school bus was from my children's school.)

We had a husband and wife military couple walking with their dog in our area along the road...There are no sidewalks here. And they were both struck and killed...All three of them died. So even walking poses risks.

Hummm...In happier news...

What exciting things have you done sports wise like skydiving?

Hi all,
I have been a bit of a lurker on the boards lately, but i just wanted to find out how many of yall have ever been sky diving??

last weekend, we went to a very reputable place, for my hubby to go skydiving with his best friend, whos wife is expecting. All went smoothly and they had a great time.

then today on the news, there were two fatalities reported for that same place, a tandem jumper along with his instructor both died when i chute didnt open correctly

we are FLOORED and feel kind of idiotic for trying something like this right before the baby is due, and right after we got engaged!

So, open topic, what is your opinion on skydiving?! love you all ~Em

Wait a minute--have I missed something here somehow, Sparkles?

Are you married already? Are you expecting?

I don't remember reading y'all got married or that you were expecting, so I must have missed something!

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

I have pretty strong feelings about "thrill-seeking" behavior, even if it's relatively safe. If it's part of a military mission or fire-fighting operation, then I can understand it. I won't be jumping out of a perfectly good airplane just to test the Law of Gravity. Parachutes are mechanical devices and mechanical devices can fail, regardless of how good the maintenance is.

I accept enough risk in my life without adding more just for the thrill. I am a pilot with commercial helicopter and private airplane privileges and I'm working on my instrument airplane rating and hope to finish my helicopter instructor's rating by next summer. From my point of view, those are skills that can be learned and can be used for some legitimate purpose. Falling is just falling.

That said, I'm not going to stand in the way if someone else wants to do it. I might even be the pilot taking the skydivers up some day. :bigsmile:

Hi all,
I have been a bit of a lurker on the boards lately, but i just wanted to find out how many of yall have ever been sky diving??

last weekend, we went to a very reputable place, for my hubby to go skydiving with his best friend, whos wife is expecting. All went smoothly and they had a great time.

then today on the news, there were two fatalities reported for that same place, a tandem jumper along with his instructor both died when i chute didnt open correctly

we are FLOORED and feel kind of idiotic for trying something like this right before the baby is due, and right after we got engaged!

So, open topic, what is your opinion on skydiving?! love you all ~Em

oh girl that would have done it for me....NO MORE SKYDIVING FOR YOU!....but that's me....LOL...I'm too much of a worrier....sigh!

hugs chica I miss you!!!
Ali

I come from a long line of worriers, so I decided to do the things I want to do, and not live life in fear. that being said I would never sky dive.

Now....

I tried skiing-fell and hurt myself. Went back and did it again, didnt hurt myself but found out I DONT LIKE SPEED. So next year it is cross country..:happy:

Tried scuba diving and snorkeling-hated scuba and LOVE snorkeling, even when I hear about sharks.

Sky diving has never been an interest to me and it darn near scares me to death. On my eldest son's 21 birthday I set him up with skydiving, video and pix. It was a scream (pun intended)

He had told me a few weeks before his bday that he never did anything interesting on his day cuz it was so close to the holidays. I thought hmmmm, what can I do to REALLY surprise him.
I loaded the 3 kids in the car with DH and headed for the boonies Fla. He was wondering the entire way....are you guys going to kill us and leave us in the Everglades and cash in our life insurance policies?

He had so much fun and we still talk about it when we are all together. So....Do what feels right to YOU. period. :flowerforyou:

:huh: Do as I say, not as I do??? Helicopter photo...Hummm... LOL

Did you even read what I wrote? I'm not trying to tell other people what to do. The question was about opinions and so I gave mine and don't particularly care if anyone agrees with me or not.

I don't think learning to fly airplanes or helicopters is on the same level as sky diving. For me, learning to fly has personal as well as practical implications. I can travel whenever, wherever without having to book a flight and go through the TSA hassle. I can make weekend trips that would be too far to drive meaning that I can visit family more often and in less time. I'm also in the process of trying to turn my hobby into an avocation. More than just a thrill, flying is a complex set of skills and I enjoy the challenge of it. Furthermore, it is estimated that there are fewer than 750,000 pilots in the country with only a fraction being helicopter pilots and fewer still that are dual rated. I enjoy being one of that very small group and I enjoy knowing that I earned my way into that elite club through study, practice and hard work.

I was an Aeroscout Observer in the Army during the Gulf War (1990) and that's where I learned to fly. That's also where I learned about acceptable risk. I got out of the Army and didn't touch a helicopter for 13 years. I finally decided that life was too short not to chase my dreams of flying professionally. That's why I got back into it. It hasn't been cheap, easy or fast but now I'm on the road to a flying career. Maybe I'll go all the way, maybe not, but I'll never look back and say, "I wish I had..."

...and I think that is what this thread was all about. Carpe diem.

Anything you do in this world may kill you. Heck, stepping on your doorstep could lead to the stone fracturing, you falling forward and breaking your neck. You could fall down the stairs heading out to work. There are so many things in this world that can kill you that we forget about the risk. We eat cheese burgers despite heart disease being the number one killer of Americans. People still smoke. I understand there is acceptable risk, but at the same time we assume much worse risks every single day. Simply because the risk is spread over a wider period of time doesn't mean it's not just as present.

I choose to ignore the risk and live my life like I may die tomorrow, because, who knows? I just might. Just a few weeks ago a lady I work with, age 40, went to the hospital. She is now on kidney dialasis, and her body has gone septic. She has less than .01% chance to survive - and if she does, she will be in an iron lung because her organs have all but ceased functioning.

What good is giving up something you've always wanted to do because it might kill you, if you know you might die tomorrow anyway? Don't take living for granted, because it can be taken away at any time.

All religions aside, we only have one life. Don't let it end with regrets and "I wish I would haves..."

Just my $0.02

It's on my personal Bucket List as well...

:huh: Do as I say, not as I do??? Helicopter photo...Hummm... LOL

Did you even read what I wrote? I'm not trying to tell other people what to do. The question was about opinions and so I gave mine and don't particularly care if anyone agrees with me or not.

I don't think learning to fly airplanes or helicopters is on the same level as sky diving. For me, learning to fly has personal as well as practical implications. I can travel whenever, wherever without having to book a flight and go through the TSA hassle. I can make weekend trips that would be too far to drive meaning that I can visit family more often and in less time. I'm also in the process of trying to turn my hobby into an avocation. More than just a thrill, flying is a complex set of skills and I enjoy the challenge of it. Furthermore, it is estimated that there are fewer than 750,000 pilots in the country with only a fraction being helicopter pilots and fewer still that are dual rated. I enjoy being one of that very small group and I enjoy knowing that I earned my way into that elite club through study, practice and hard work.

I was an Aeroscout Observer in the Army during the Gulf War (1990) and that's where I learned to fly. That's also where I learned about acceptable risk. I got out of the Army and didn't touch a helicopter for 13 years. I finally decided that life was too short not to chase my dreams of flying professionally. That's why I got back into it. It hasn't been cheap, easy or fast but now I'm on the road to a flying career. Maybe I'll go all the way, maybe not, but I'll never look back and say, "I wish I had..."

...and I think that is what this thread was all about. Carpe diem.

Kudos for you LockedCJ! My dad learned to fly in Vietnam and when came home got his pilot's license too. He always says flying a helicopter is the hardest, but landing it is even harder. I have friends who fly and live for it. A very expensive profession to get into, or a very expensive hobby to have. But, I think you're right about all the benefits- especially getting to visit family and friends more often.

Carpe diem.

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

I have pretty strong feelings about "thrill-seeking" behavior, even if it's relatively safe. If it's part of a military mission or fire-fighting operation, then I can understand it. I won't be jumping out of a perfectly good airplane just to test the Law of Gravity. Parachutes are mechanical devices and mechanical devices can fail, regardless of how good the maintenance is.

I accept enough risk in my life without adding more just for the thrill. I am a pilot with commercial helicopter and private airplane privileges and I'm working on my instrument airplane rating and hope to finish my helicopter instructor's rating by next summer. From my point of view, those are skills that can be learned and can be used for some legitimate purpose. Falling is just falling.

That said, I'm not going to stand in the way if someone else wants to do it. I might even be the pilot taking the skydivers up some day. :bigsmile:

I don't see it so much as being a "thrill-seeking" behavior as a letting go behavior.

I've seen it happen so many times: someone loses weight and wants to do something out of the ordinary for them, something they never thought they could do but that they had always dreamed of...it's as if they are letting go of their old mind sets and believing they can finally succeed at what was only a dream before...

And it doesn't have to always manifest with something "mechanical", which can have faults as you stated...the human body is flawed, one wrong move on the highway and we're toast, one wrong step and you can break a toe by stubbing it, if you're in the water at the wrong time you could lose a limb from a tiger shark...

and why does everything have to have a legitimate purpose in life? can't i just do something to reward myself? to congratulate my hard work? or just because I want to try it? isn't THAT legitimate enough?

it's good to see that you understand others want to try something, but i hope you do things for yourself because you enjoy it sometimes, not because it's a necessary staple of chores in life.:indifferent:

Well let's get back to the thread that I Luv Sparkles Started

Have I ever been skydiving no - would ah no scared to death of heights.

To each their own wouldn't bungie jump either swim with the sharks - I'm a doer travelled all over the world rode a Harley -

to each their own - I hate heights maybe if I didn't who knows.

This is the way I look at things - I survived a near fatal car crash in the 80's - spent a week in ICU
I survived Breast cancer 2 years ago........

Skydiving welll I think I'd be pushing it :laugh: