85TH YEAR
I did it again. I said before boarding plane:
I’m back again at 85
Gonna take another high skydive
I did it once 5 years ago
When asked if I’d do it again, said I don’t know
But here I am all aglow
I’m set and ready, Andiamo!—Let’s go!
The weather was bad on the day planned with rain predicted for next few days. I was so psyched up for what I wanted to do that day on August 24th. So on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. I called and was told it was a 50-50 chance of flying due to the weather. I hopped in the car and drove up to Titusville to the Skydive center. There were 55 people waiting ahead of me and just one little plane. It was rush, rush, rush.
After warily watching large clouds form above for a couple of hours it was my turn. My young handsome tandem guy Nick, 27 years old, was slim and just a little taller than me. I was the oldest person he had jumped with and he may have been a little more concerned. The plane was packed.
We were the second tandem to bail out at 18,000 feet. The cold wind felt great! A brief escape from all the muggy hot weather.
I enjoyed it and just wish it could have lasted longer. I knew no one, but several were friendly, chatted with me and asked to take a picture with me. I guess they wanted to tell their friends about the old lady jumping. It was 5 years ago the first time on my 80th. After looking at the photos taken today, I think I’ll just keep the photos from 5 years ago.
Wow – that wind up there can really ripple the wrinkles and saggy skin all over. Well – that will hold me – for a while.
Cheers! Gloria Makowski