Tuesday 22 July 2014

Emotions


 The last week or so has been rather strange and surreal for a lot of the time. There have been various things going on in my life that have had my emotions sky high, rock bottom, or just plain swirling around, and so I haven't really felt settled enough to blog. Most days we have managed to get down to the beach for a stroll and a paddle in the water before work, and so thoughts about the real priorities in life that matter have at least been in the forefront of my mind. I have started this week with yet another theft of machinery from, quite literally, about a hundred yards from where I was working, but I am trying hard to centre my 'Chi', and so this post is about the feelings surrounding eldest daughter Claires skydive for charity.
 
 
This is a girl who suffers from height fright when going up into the loft, and yet she had decided that she would raise some much needed money for the hospital that she works in by jumping out of a perfectly good aeroplane, thousands of feet up! She didn't (up until this post) know just how concerned I was for the whole thing. I suppose it's the whole parental responsibilty argument coming in with 'why didn't I talk her out of it',  or 'is she aware that you either live or die', with no half way compromise of perhaps a broken leg if the parachute doesn't open. As far as  know, the only other person to have parachute jumped will have been her grandfather, Opa, who would have undergone parachute training as part of his Messerschmidt pilot training, but she is the first to freefall.

 
Her experienced co-jumper was professional, as a worried dad I watched everthing he did, and the way in which he did it. Equipment was checked, and re-checked. He exuded confidence, humour and tact. But as she walked to the plane, I couldn't help but pray that she would be taken care of by a power far, far greater than me.

 
The take off, and the point of no return. She would either do it, or at the last moment when hanging face first out of the plane, would bottle it, either would be ok with me, but I felt that the disappointent that she would feel if she didn't manage to see it through would hang so, so heavily on her.

 
We counted the tiny dots of bodies as they left the aircraft that was way too high for comfort above us, and realised that Claire was indeed one of those dots high up in the sky. The dots eventually became people, with parachutes attached!

 
Finally, daughter was safe, and alive, and most importantly euphoric!

 
Me, well I had been anxious, scared, glum, terrified, interested, content, ecstatic, joyous, pleased. I suppose that every emotion went through me that day, but happiness and pride on seeing her face after the jump blew everything else away. Would I do it? Well, before this day my answer would have been a firm 'Not in a million years!'. Now, well, watch this space for a family jump next year maybe, in which Claire can show us what to do...... Poole Hospital, I hope you appreciate what your staff risk to raise money for you!
 
Below is someone doing the same jump that Claire did. Kind of exciting eh?

18 comments:

  1. Claire has a lot of guts. I hope her father can now relax!

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  2. She does indeed Alain, and yes, he is relaxing a little more now thank you.

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  3. WOW!! She just looks RADIANT!! Good for her! And that IS a dedicated employee to raise money by jumping out of a plane!! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Melanie, she was bouncing for the next dsy or so.

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    1. The beach walks help thanks John, but the old head is still a little messed up.

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  5. Good for her! It is a scary experience at first but then it's like flying! Congrats to her for also helping raise money. As for you.....I hope you get your groove back. I know how things are sometimes. I wish I knew the answer because I have also been dealing with the same kinds of emotions. Birding is the only thing that makes me forget. Nature is a good good powerful force.

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    1. Hello Chris,
      The groove isn't there yet, but like you with the birding, walks in nature (early morning beach) help. Claire was brilliant that day. It sounds like you have jumped too?

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  6. I am so sorry to hear about the theft of some of your machinery. That really stinks. What are you supposed to do have everything locked down every minute, or tied to your body and drag it along while you are working?

    Wow, congrats to Claire. She looks so happy! I'm pretty sure I couldn't do that. I don't have any interest in it either. She did it for a good cause though, and overcame some fear too. What an accomplishment.

    Hope you have good days this week ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Thieves are getting bolder and bolder Lorraine, it's getting that you sadly have to keep a look out as you try to work. Claire was really brave that day, especially as she has always found going into the attic too high.

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  7. That is quite the smile!
    I'm sure your smile was just a big.
    I won't be signing up for that. I'm only jumping out of a plane if it is on fire.

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    1. It's quite the grin isn't it Sherlock?

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  8. Hi, Gary--

    I'm visiting from Lorraine's blog. I hope life calms down for you soon--ongoing stress is so hard and wearying. Your daughter does, indeed, look radiant, as Melanie above me noted. Good for her! :)

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    1. Good morning Val, nice to see you over here. Life is still a bit messy, in my head anyway. Claires smile stayed there for days!

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  9. What a great thing to do. Challenge your self and raise money.

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  10. Gary,

    Hoping you are centering well, first to suffer an equipment theft, but then watching a child fling themselves from plane. I will admit my pulse quickened somewhat as I read what your daughter was doing as a fund raiser. The irony of raising funds for a hospital in this manner had me captivated.

    I cannot begin to image the emotional roller coaster you must have been on. Fear for the young ones safety, yet wanting to be supportive and all the other feelings in between. And how at the end of it all, with that most radiant smile, the pride must have all but burst from your chest.

    I applaud you both. – gary

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  11. Gary, those two things, coupled with a whole load of other stuff, have left me somewhat brain drained, but the jump was an experience not to be missed. Hoping to do it myself next year, if I have the nerves for it. Have a good week.

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