On the way home on a dark, narrow, two-lane road (Jackson Road to anyone who knows this area), with narrow shoulder and steep drop-off (ditch?) on either side, I saw emergency lights flashing ahead. Then I saw a fire truck pull into place behind the emergency vehicles already there. Not knowing what was going on, I slowed down almost to a crawl until I could make sure it was safe to proceed. There were two Highway Patrol cars there, lights flashing, and two emergency vehicles.
When I determined that I could pass safely, I noted a car in the ditch to my right. Another car, facing the opposite way was off the side of the opposite lane, with only the emergency lights flashing, but no one seemed to be about the car. A quick look to my right, I saw a car in the ditch, tipped almost on its right side, the driver-side door wide open.
I passed slowly and cautiously past the scene, but didn't see any bodily activity. Perhaps the driver had already been extricated. I don't know. What happened? Drunk driver? Possibly. Heart attack? Possibly. All kinds of things are going through my head. Maybe I'll read about it in the newspaper in a day or two.
Scary.
But back to Wednesday that came on Monday.
DW is going to investigate a writers' class on Wednesday and asked me to come tonight instead. Fine with me. Any time spent with her and DH(usband) is a pleasure.
Among other things, we watched a video of sky divers. DH has done 29 jumps. I was in awe, fascinated. But also convinced that it's not something I will do in this lifetime. When I was taking flying lessons, my instructor gave me the prescribed instructions on bailing out. I told him nevermind. If there's any possible way I can get this plane down, I ain't leavin' it. But FAA rules say the student has to be properly instructed. So I was instructed.
Anyway, when flyers leave the plane they can fall at 100-110 mph. You have any idea how long it takes to go splat on the ground if the chute fails? Not very long. I think he told me sometime previously that they bail out at about 6,000 to 7,000 feet.
They do what looks like a ballet in the sky, or aerobatics with the human body. There was even one with a skate board attached to his feet, and when he landed he was ready to skate. Believe it!
When the flyer decides he's free-fallen long enough, he starts waving his arms like a bird flying to let others know that he's about to deploy his chute. Anyone nearby, who could possibly be a danger to the other flyer makes movements that take him out of the way of danger to himself and the other flyer.
Remember in the old war movies how the chutist would drop and roll? Well they don't do it that way anymore. They land feet first, knees bent (I assume to absorb the shock of landing, although the landing looks very soft) almost walking, turn and gather the lines and fold up the chute to pack for a flight another day.
The flyers pack their own parachutes, and DH showed me how his was packed. And where's that gadget he pulls when he wants to deploy the chute. There's also an emergency pack that is packed by someone else, and DH described that procedure, too.
What a sport.
I'll probably dream of free-fall tonight. Hope I don't wake up on the floor.
Shalom