AggieDave 6 #1 September 13, 2006 It sucks, huh? Well, you know our sport is contained with the basic idea that we are dead once we leave the plane. We do things along the way to save our own lives. No one can do it for us, either. I personally don't feel like its a tragedy when someone dies skydiving. I feel sadness when it happens, don't get me wrong, I'm not that jaded, but I don't feel like its a full tragedy. If I had a double mal and burned in, I hope that my friends are on my ash dive and then have a HUGE party with Jack Daniels and Shiner Bock flowing. Same if I die swooping, die on my motorcycle, in a car wreck or I'm killed at work. I fully hope that no one stops jumping or ruins their life due to my passing. These thoughts came to mind while typing out another post in another forum, but then the thoughts started to grow and take form and make more sense to me. The more I think about it the more I realize that after you loose a few friends due to skydiving (or any other activity) you get used to the idea that the said activity can and will kill people. Its not that you loved those people any less, but you have come to an understanding regarding the activity. The best I can do in the mean time with any of my activities is learn as much as I an to be as safe as I can be, have good health insurance and have good life insurance to help my wife with expenses. Beyond that, life happens and I'd rather die out living it then on the couch watching others living it for me. What are your thoughts on life and death in skydiving? This post wasn't spurred by any recent deaths in the sport, beyond the people I knew that died this year. It was spurred by a conversation I had after lunch today with one of my DZ's low time jumpers.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #2 September 13, 2006 What are your thoughts on life and death in skydiving? *** Mummmm Pie! Other than that, I don't think alot about it....any more. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ExAFO 0 #3 September 13, 2006 I promise my cat Neko that I will come home to feed her every day. Therefore I will never die. If I did, Neko would kick my arse.Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #4 September 13, 2006 QuoteMummmm Pie! Wink Other than that, I don't think alot about it....any more. HA! You know, I don't see myself quitting this sport until the FAA says I can't take my walker onto the jump plane anymore and I'm unable to make it to the plane our out of the plane on my own power.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shell666 0 #5 September 13, 2006 QuoteIt sucks, huh? Well, you know our sport is contained with the basic idea that we are dead once we leave the plane. We do things along the way to save our own lives. No one can do it for us, either. I personally don't feel like its a tragedy when someone dies skydiving. I feel sadness when it happens, don't get me wrong, I'm not that jaded, but I don't feel like its a full tragedy. I think it's a tragedy however I lose people in my life. I don't think about how they died ... I just think that's it's a tragedy that they're not there anymore. That they didn't get to live any longer, that I didn't get to share things with them, that they didn't get to share things with me. That they're not there anymore. I've lost more than enough friends in the sport, and in other ways, and I've lost some very important family members to illness. All of those loses, in my eyes, were a tragedy. In all of them I've lost something in my life. Something very important. Doesn't matter how they died. I don't make that distinction. To me, any loss is a tragedy. 'Shell'Shell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
godfrog 2 #6 September 13, 2006 I kind of believe in fate and destiny, when its your time it doesnt matter where you are. Ive seen to many close calls on the job and other places and seen people walk away unscathed. On the other hand Ive seen people die from simple little accidents that shouldnt have been fatal. dont know what to say.Experience is a difficult teacher, she gives you the test first and the lesson afterward Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrabGrass 0 #7 September 13, 2006 QuoteWhat are your thoughts on life and death in skydiving? Quote Mummmm Pie! Other than that, I don't think alot about it....any more. *** You are so....D E E P ! ~ "Pack Fast, Pull Low... and Date Your Riggers WIFE!" ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #8 September 13, 2006 QuoteWhat are your thoughts on life and death in skydiving? That blues make me feel alive, but deaths make me feel the blues. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #9 September 13, 2006 What she said, more eloquently than I could have. People I love didn't start dying when I started skydiving. People I love won't stop dying because I stop skydiving. All I can do is the best I can do not to join them, and to help my loved ones understand why I continue to jump even in the face of death."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #10 September 13, 2006 If I bounce and there's an afterlife, I've got dibs on being the first freefall ghost.cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SwampThing 0 #11 September 13, 2006 Quotewe are dead once we leave the plane. We do things along the way to save our own lives. No one can do it for us, either. Quote Is this another Cypress thread?! The Pessimist says: "It can't possibly get any worse!" The Optimist says: "Sure it can!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lindercles 0 #12 September 13, 2006 Quote Is this another Cypress thread?! No, it's an rsl thread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites grue 1 #13 September 13, 2006 QuoteQuote Is this another Cypress thread?! No, it's an rsl thread. Bullshit. I'm landing a wingsuit.cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites murrays 0 #14 September 13, 2006 QuoteI've lost more than enough friends in the sport, and in other ways, and I've lost some very important family members to illness. All of those loses, in my eyes, were a tragedy. In all of them I've lost something in my life. Something very important. Doesn't matter how they died. I don't make that distinction. To me, any loss is a tragedy. 'Shell The loss can be overwhelming at times when you lose someone important to you....but I think you have to remember how lucky you were to have them as long as you did and remember them with fondness and love.-- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 7 #15 September 13, 2006 QuoteIf I bounce and there's an afterlife, I've got dibs on being the first freefall ghost. If I bounce and there's an afterlife...I'm REALLY fucked! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites peckerhead 0 #16 September 13, 2006 QuoteIt sucks, huh? Well, you know our sport is contained with the basic idea that we are dead once we leave the plane. BULLSHIT! We are ALIVE when we leave the plane! Everyone I have ever jumped with was ALIVE when we left the plane! And so far they were also alive when we landed. I don't jump with dead people. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites RkyMtnHigh 0 #17 September 13, 2006 It isn't about how they died as much as who I knew them to be while they were here and how they lived...their good nature, their heart, their love and compassion for others, etc. So far the loss of my loved ones have been sudden or tragic, however atleast they didn't suffer for long. I have peace with that. It's painful as hell...but I also know that one day we have some kickass skydives on the other side to look forward to _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Shell666 0 #18 September 13, 2006 QuoteWhat she said, more eloquently than I could have. People I love didn't start dying when I started skydiving. People I love won't stop dying because I stop skydiving. All I can do is the best I can do not to join them, and to help my loved ones understand why I continue to jump even in the face of death. Thanks, Krisanne. But don't get me wrong, AggieDave ... I lost a very dear friend skydiving in 1996 (actually, two dear friends about 4 days apart but there's a WHOLE other story about Dave!). And every year, I go to Mel's grave with another friend and we bring a bottle of wine, drink to her, pour some her grave and leave a little memento of her (one year it was the Crack Choir light necklaces I made ... I'm a Crack and I'm PROUD!, because that's what we do!) Lord help us if the 'grave police' ever come by. Don't know how we'd explain that! And I would hope that my friends would do the same for me! They know what I'm like and what I would hope they would "send me off" with! But like I said, any loss is a tragedy. I'd never go drink wine on my mom's grave, because that's not the relationship we had. I do other things for her. Loss is loss. How you deal with it is how you deal with it. Everyone deals with it differently ... and, in my experience, you deal with every loss differently. People are different. 'Shell'Shell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AggieDave 6 #19 September 13, 2006 QuoteBULLSHIT! We are ALIVE when we leave the plane! Everyone I have ever jumped with was ALIVE when we left the plane! And so far they were also alive when we landed. I don't jump with dead people. Symantics, not bullshit. We're alive when we are flying our bodies in the air. Atleast I feel alive. If I did nothing, or if my gear didn't work as designed, then I'm dead. Even a fall from 10ft can kill you, much less 10,000ft. If that did happen, I hope I'm close enough to take my rigger's truck out, since it'll be hard to track while fighting to get something to work.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 7 #20 September 13, 2006 If that did happen, I hope I'm close enough to take my rigger's truck out, since it'll be hard to track while fighting to get something to work. *** Yup! My exit death rattle will make Tony Montana look like a vegetable! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ExAFO 0 #21 September 13, 2006 QuoteIf that did happen, I hope I'm close enough to take my rigger's truck out, since it'll be hard to track while fighting to get something to work. I plan on tracking to hit my rigger himself...Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Shell666 0 #22 September 13, 2006 QuoteQuoteI've lost more than enough friends in the sport, and in other ways, and I've lost some very important family members to illness. All of those loses, in my eyes, were a tragedy. In all of them I've lost something in my life. Something very important. Doesn't matter how they died. I don't make that distinction. To me, any loss is a tragedy. 'Shell The loss can be overwhelming at times when you lose someone important to you....but I think you have to remember how lucky you were to have them as long as you did and remember them with fondness and love. Trust me ... I always do ... still a tragedy that I don't have them in my life any more. Doesn't mean I don't remember them fondly, just means I miss them terribly. Everyone feels things differently. To me losing someone is a tragedy, to someone else, it might be a sad affair ... doesn't mean we don't miss them the same. And I hope my friends feel the same when I'm gone (they can still bitch me out for leaving them ... however I leave them and they can have my stuff but they have to line up and get in a nice, orderly manner!) 'Shell'Shell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AggieDave 6 #23 September 13, 2006 QuoteBut don't get me wrong, AggieDave ... I lost a very dear friend skydiving in 1996 (actually, two dear friends about 4 days apart but there's a WHOLE other story about Dave!). And every year, I go to Mel's grave with another friend and we bring a bottle of wine, drink to her, pour some her grave and leave a little memento of her (one year it was the Crack Choir light necklaces I made ... I'm a Crack and I'm PROUD!, because that's what we do!) I fully understand. Every year on Nov 18th I lift a drink to Scott West and the other 11 that died that day. It took me a while to come to the conclusions I did that I posted here tonight. Basically its that I will be sad, I will remember, but I'm not going to let someone's death change me to the point of changing who I am, what I do and my character. This thread came about due to having a conversation with someone who doesn't jump anymore due to loosing a friend jumping. I know that I would be pissed if any of my friends stopped jumping if I died jumping. I'm very sure that the rest of my friends in skydiving would feel the same way.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 7 #24 September 13, 2006 they can have my stuff but they have to line up and get in a nice, orderly manner!) *** Dibs on the Saskatoon and Rhubarb PIE! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites grue 1 #25 September 13, 2006 QuoteQuoteIf I bounce and there's an afterlife, I've got dibs on being the first freefall ghost. If I bounce and there's an afterlife...I'm REALLY fucked! I just hope that if there's a higher power, he's got a sense of humour. But I'm running with my current lack of belief cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0 Go To Topic Listing
grue 1 #13 September 13, 2006 QuoteQuote Is this another Cypress thread?! No, it's an rsl thread. Bullshit. I'm landing a wingsuit.cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites murrays 0 #14 September 13, 2006 QuoteI've lost more than enough friends in the sport, and in other ways, and I've lost some very important family members to illness. All of those loses, in my eyes, were a tragedy. In all of them I've lost something in my life. Something very important. Doesn't matter how they died. I don't make that distinction. To me, any loss is a tragedy. 'Shell The loss can be overwhelming at times when you lose someone important to you....but I think you have to remember how lucky you were to have them as long as you did and remember them with fondness and love.-- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 7 #15 September 13, 2006 QuoteIf I bounce and there's an afterlife, I've got dibs on being the first freefall ghost. If I bounce and there's an afterlife...I'm REALLY fucked! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites peckerhead 0 #16 September 13, 2006 QuoteIt sucks, huh? Well, you know our sport is contained with the basic idea that we are dead once we leave the plane. BULLSHIT! We are ALIVE when we leave the plane! Everyone I have ever jumped with was ALIVE when we left the plane! And so far they were also alive when we landed. I don't jump with dead people. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites RkyMtnHigh 0 #17 September 13, 2006 It isn't about how they died as much as who I knew them to be while they were here and how they lived...their good nature, their heart, their love and compassion for others, etc. So far the loss of my loved ones have been sudden or tragic, however atleast they didn't suffer for long. I have peace with that. It's painful as hell...but I also know that one day we have some kickass skydives on the other side to look forward to _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Shell666 0 #18 September 13, 2006 QuoteWhat she said, more eloquently than I could have. People I love didn't start dying when I started skydiving. People I love won't stop dying because I stop skydiving. All I can do is the best I can do not to join them, and to help my loved ones understand why I continue to jump even in the face of death. Thanks, Krisanne. But don't get me wrong, AggieDave ... I lost a very dear friend skydiving in 1996 (actually, two dear friends about 4 days apart but there's a WHOLE other story about Dave!). And every year, I go to Mel's grave with another friend and we bring a bottle of wine, drink to her, pour some her grave and leave a little memento of her (one year it was the Crack Choir light necklaces I made ... I'm a Crack and I'm PROUD!, because that's what we do!) Lord help us if the 'grave police' ever come by. Don't know how we'd explain that! And I would hope that my friends would do the same for me! They know what I'm like and what I would hope they would "send me off" with! But like I said, any loss is a tragedy. I'd never go drink wine on my mom's grave, because that's not the relationship we had. I do other things for her. Loss is loss. How you deal with it is how you deal with it. Everyone deals with it differently ... and, in my experience, you deal with every loss differently. People are different. 'Shell'Shell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AggieDave 6 #19 September 13, 2006 QuoteBULLSHIT! We are ALIVE when we leave the plane! Everyone I have ever jumped with was ALIVE when we left the plane! And so far they were also alive when we landed. I don't jump with dead people. Symantics, not bullshit. We're alive when we are flying our bodies in the air. Atleast I feel alive. If I did nothing, or if my gear didn't work as designed, then I'm dead. Even a fall from 10ft can kill you, much less 10,000ft. If that did happen, I hope I'm close enough to take my rigger's truck out, since it'll be hard to track while fighting to get something to work.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 7 #20 September 13, 2006 If that did happen, I hope I'm close enough to take my rigger's truck out, since it'll be hard to track while fighting to get something to work. *** Yup! My exit death rattle will make Tony Montana look like a vegetable! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ExAFO 0 #21 September 13, 2006 QuoteIf that did happen, I hope I'm close enough to take my rigger's truck out, since it'll be hard to track while fighting to get something to work. I plan on tracking to hit my rigger himself...Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Shell666 0 #22 September 13, 2006 QuoteQuoteI've lost more than enough friends in the sport, and in other ways, and I've lost some very important family members to illness. All of those loses, in my eyes, were a tragedy. In all of them I've lost something in my life. Something very important. Doesn't matter how they died. I don't make that distinction. To me, any loss is a tragedy. 'Shell The loss can be overwhelming at times when you lose someone important to you....but I think you have to remember how lucky you were to have them as long as you did and remember them with fondness and love. Trust me ... I always do ... still a tragedy that I don't have them in my life any more. Doesn't mean I don't remember them fondly, just means I miss them terribly. Everyone feels things differently. To me losing someone is a tragedy, to someone else, it might be a sad affair ... doesn't mean we don't miss them the same. And I hope my friends feel the same when I'm gone (they can still bitch me out for leaving them ... however I leave them and they can have my stuff but they have to line up and get in a nice, orderly manner!) 'Shell'Shell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AggieDave 6 #23 September 13, 2006 QuoteBut don't get me wrong, AggieDave ... I lost a very dear friend skydiving in 1996 (actually, two dear friends about 4 days apart but there's a WHOLE other story about Dave!). And every year, I go to Mel's grave with another friend and we bring a bottle of wine, drink to her, pour some her grave and leave a little memento of her (one year it was the Crack Choir light necklaces I made ... I'm a Crack and I'm PROUD!, because that's what we do!) I fully understand. Every year on Nov 18th I lift a drink to Scott West and the other 11 that died that day. It took me a while to come to the conclusions I did that I posted here tonight. Basically its that I will be sad, I will remember, but I'm not going to let someone's death change me to the point of changing who I am, what I do and my character. This thread came about due to having a conversation with someone who doesn't jump anymore due to loosing a friend jumping. I know that I would be pissed if any of my friends stopped jumping if I died jumping. I'm very sure that the rest of my friends in skydiving would feel the same way.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 7 #24 September 13, 2006 they can have my stuff but they have to line up and get in a nice, orderly manner!) *** Dibs on the Saskatoon and Rhubarb PIE! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites grue 1 #25 September 13, 2006 QuoteQuoteIf I bounce and there's an afterlife, I've got dibs on being the first freefall ghost. If I bounce and there's an afterlife...I'm REALLY fucked! I just hope that if there's a higher power, he's got a sense of humour. But I'm running with my current lack of belief cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
murrays 0 #14 September 13, 2006 QuoteI've lost more than enough friends in the sport, and in other ways, and I've lost some very important family members to illness. All of those loses, in my eyes, were a tragedy. In all of them I've lost something in my life. Something very important. Doesn't matter how they died. I don't make that distinction. To me, any loss is a tragedy. 'Shell The loss can be overwhelming at times when you lose someone important to you....but I think you have to remember how lucky you were to have them as long as you did and remember them with fondness and love.-- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #15 September 13, 2006 QuoteIf I bounce and there's an afterlife, I've got dibs on being the first freefall ghost. If I bounce and there's an afterlife...I'm REALLY fucked! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peckerhead 0 #16 September 13, 2006 QuoteIt sucks, huh? Well, you know our sport is contained with the basic idea that we are dead once we leave the plane. BULLSHIT! We are ALIVE when we leave the plane! Everyone I have ever jumped with was ALIVE when we left the plane! And so far they were also alive when we landed. I don't jump with dead people. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #17 September 13, 2006 It isn't about how they died as much as who I knew them to be while they were here and how they lived...their good nature, their heart, their love and compassion for others, etc. So far the loss of my loved ones have been sudden or tragic, however atleast they didn't suffer for long. I have peace with that. It's painful as hell...but I also know that one day we have some kickass skydives on the other side to look forward to _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shell666 0 #18 September 13, 2006 QuoteWhat she said, more eloquently than I could have. People I love didn't start dying when I started skydiving. People I love won't stop dying because I stop skydiving. All I can do is the best I can do not to join them, and to help my loved ones understand why I continue to jump even in the face of death. Thanks, Krisanne. But don't get me wrong, AggieDave ... I lost a very dear friend skydiving in 1996 (actually, two dear friends about 4 days apart but there's a WHOLE other story about Dave!). And every year, I go to Mel's grave with another friend and we bring a bottle of wine, drink to her, pour some her grave and leave a little memento of her (one year it was the Crack Choir light necklaces I made ... I'm a Crack and I'm PROUD!, because that's what we do!) Lord help us if the 'grave police' ever come by. Don't know how we'd explain that! And I would hope that my friends would do the same for me! They know what I'm like and what I would hope they would "send me off" with! But like I said, any loss is a tragedy. I'd never go drink wine on my mom's grave, because that's not the relationship we had. I do other things for her. Loss is loss. How you deal with it is how you deal with it. Everyone deals with it differently ... and, in my experience, you deal with every loss differently. People are different. 'Shell'Shell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #19 September 13, 2006 QuoteBULLSHIT! We are ALIVE when we leave the plane! Everyone I have ever jumped with was ALIVE when we left the plane! And so far they were also alive when we landed. I don't jump with dead people. Symantics, not bullshit. We're alive when we are flying our bodies in the air. Atleast I feel alive. If I did nothing, or if my gear didn't work as designed, then I'm dead. Even a fall from 10ft can kill you, much less 10,000ft. If that did happen, I hope I'm close enough to take my rigger's truck out, since it'll be hard to track while fighting to get something to work.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #20 September 13, 2006 If that did happen, I hope I'm close enough to take my rigger's truck out, since it'll be hard to track while fighting to get something to work. *** Yup! My exit death rattle will make Tony Montana look like a vegetable! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ExAFO 0 #21 September 13, 2006 QuoteIf that did happen, I hope I'm close enough to take my rigger's truck out, since it'll be hard to track while fighting to get something to work. I plan on tracking to hit my rigger himself...Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shell666 0 #22 September 13, 2006 QuoteQuoteI've lost more than enough friends in the sport, and in other ways, and I've lost some very important family members to illness. All of those loses, in my eyes, were a tragedy. In all of them I've lost something in my life. Something very important. Doesn't matter how they died. I don't make that distinction. To me, any loss is a tragedy. 'Shell The loss can be overwhelming at times when you lose someone important to you....but I think you have to remember how lucky you were to have them as long as you did and remember them with fondness and love. Trust me ... I always do ... still a tragedy that I don't have them in my life any more. Doesn't mean I don't remember them fondly, just means I miss them terribly. Everyone feels things differently. To me losing someone is a tragedy, to someone else, it might be a sad affair ... doesn't mean we don't miss them the same. And I hope my friends feel the same when I'm gone (they can still bitch me out for leaving them ... however I leave them and they can have my stuff but they have to line up and get in a nice, orderly manner!) 'Shell'Shell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #23 September 13, 2006 QuoteBut don't get me wrong, AggieDave ... I lost a very dear friend skydiving in 1996 (actually, two dear friends about 4 days apart but there's a WHOLE other story about Dave!). And every year, I go to Mel's grave with another friend and we bring a bottle of wine, drink to her, pour some her grave and leave a little memento of her (one year it was the Crack Choir light necklaces I made ... I'm a Crack and I'm PROUD!, because that's what we do!) I fully understand. Every year on Nov 18th I lift a drink to Scott West and the other 11 that died that day. It took me a while to come to the conclusions I did that I posted here tonight. Basically its that I will be sad, I will remember, but I'm not going to let someone's death change me to the point of changing who I am, what I do and my character. This thread came about due to having a conversation with someone who doesn't jump anymore due to loosing a friend jumping. I know that I would be pissed if any of my friends stopped jumping if I died jumping. I'm very sure that the rest of my friends in skydiving would feel the same way.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #24 September 13, 2006 they can have my stuff but they have to line up and get in a nice, orderly manner!) *** Dibs on the Saskatoon and Rhubarb PIE! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #25 September 13, 2006 QuoteQuoteIf I bounce and there's an afterlife, I've got dibs on being the first freefall ghost. If I bounce and there's an afterlife...I'm REALLY fucked! I just hope that if there's a higher power, he's got a sense of humour. But I'm running with my current lack of belief cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
