Its in my blood

[jimartle 0]

Congratulations Bill! Glad to hear it.

[chuteless 1]

Thanks Jim. It was nice that you and I crossed paths during my 50 yrs in the sport I loved.

When I think of all the wonderful people I met and jumped with, I sure consider myself a lucky guy.

Bill

[jimartle 0]

Yeah, I wish Parkman was still open. We could both visit Dale and Bobby and have a few cold ones again.

[steve1 5]

Congratulations Bill. It took a lot of fortitude to do that...."You're the Man!"

[chuteless 1]

Steve: I was never one to pass up a " dare ", and that has got me into trouble a few times. Once I make up my mind on something, I refuse to back down or be told I have to do something, someone elses way. I will see it through.

Thanks for your encouragement.

Bill Cole

[Spooky52 0]

Congratulations, Bill. I'm sure you enjoyed every second of it.

I, too, am approaching that time of my life. It's been almost 30 years since my last jump (seems like only yesterday) and am getting the bug again. The biggest thing holding me back is the distance to the nearest airport (Perris or Elsinore) and the amount of cash necessary to get to make another. They want me to go through a "training" program and make a hop and pop first. That adds up fast. One of these days I'll do it. I still have my Stratostar and am not too far off the gross weight. :-)

I'm happy that you did it. Now you won't go to the big drop zone in the sky thinking, "Damn! I should have done it".

Blue skies.

Jim Chandler D-4501
Apple Valley, CA

If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

[chuteless 1]

Jim: I am already thinking of my next jump, but told my daughter that I would wait until she is proficient in freefall for a 60 sec delay. That is when I will emerge from the pile of dust webs in the corner, and once again " Punch a Hole In The Sky".

For explanation, see Jim Twardowski submission on skydiving poems

Thanks for your kind comments




Bill

Last posted May 22 2012

[airtwardo 7]

Quote

Jim: I am already thinking of my next jump, but told my daughter that I would wait until she is proficient in freefall for a 60 sec delay. That is when I will emerge from the pile of dust webs in the corner, and once again " Punch a Hole In The Sky".

For explanation, see Jim Twardowski submission on skydiving poems

Thanks for your kind comments




Bill

Last posted May 22 2012

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3804135;search_string=Punch%20a%20Hole%20In%20The%20Sky;#3804135


PUNCHING A HOLE IN THE SKY -Bill Cole

What a wonderful sport I find myself in,
It takes place where the thunderbolts fly,
Where rainbows are bent after summer's rain
And to do good, you just have to try.
Looking down on the earth and the fields of green
There's no need to be wimpish or shy,
Its a place you can go, to fly without wings
As you punch a hole in the sky.


It must seem so strange as you look up above,
And behold what is seen with the eye,
The clear blue of heaven that's over your head
As the fluffy white clouds go by.
And soon you are flying like a bird on the wing
And you plummet toward earth from on high,
Your parachute opens and you realize
That you've just punched a hole in the sky.

In all of the things you are able to do
There is no greater thrill you can buy,
So wonderful, and so exciting it is,
It can bring tears of joy to your eye.
With other skydivers the pleasures you share,
For each of you learned how to fly,
A wonderful landing, you're back on the earth,
But you just punched a hole in the sky.

There are many who cling to the earth like a claw,
They're the people who've never asked "why?",
They'll never know that the reason birds sing
Is because they are able to fly.
They could not understand how a skydiver feels
If you told them till rivers run dry,
And the greatest of pleasures a skydiver knows
Is punching a hole in the sky.

The day is soon over, you stare at the fire,
But memories linger and sigh,
The crimson red sunset that hovers above
Casts a glow on companions nearby.
You fill out your logbook with each thrilling move
As the shadows of dark seem to tie
Themselves to each other, and you smile as you know
That you punched a hole in the sky.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~