[Leica] mini photo story - balloon evening

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

Eric Korenman offered:
Subject: Re: [Leica] mini photo story - balloon evening

 

>>>>Funny that two of us agreed we had the most bizarre urge to just 'step
out' (!) of the gondola at 5000 feet.

It seems so unreal, quiet an peaceful up there.

Your hind brain says "yeah -- step out so we can float away"

Your fore brain says "what the hell you doing??" <<<

Hi Eric,

Now that's interesting, as I had that feeling for years when photographing
from helicopters sitting on the floor with my legs over the side. I often
wondered what it would be like to just roll out and head to earth. Obviously
with a parachute! :-)

Finally a month past my 65th birthday I did just that! I figured if I waited
to the 66th people would tell me I was too old to do it! :-) Or put me in a
straight jacket! :-)

My attitude was "screw them it's now or never!" So when the jump master
yelled "GO!" .. "OUT I WENT FROM 4000 feet!!!!!!!! :-)  Hell of a ride and
glad that I did it. well that is other than on the days now when the torn
tendon that was un-repairable in my right shoulder becomes a sort of
screaming hell due to my landing not being 100% correct. OK so it was
99.9999% not bad for a first jump. :-)

Attitude today when I can hardly put a camera to my eye? Damn glad I did it
as it was something of a life time adventure to do. And you bet your sweet
buns I'd do it again. However? After my reincarnation! :-) 

But you can't beat being upside down in a P51 on your 76th birthday doing
loop the loops and rolls and tumbling through the sky! But jeeesh wait until
the 80th next year! :-)

ted