Debbie had a birthday. It was one of those BIG ones that people either dread or not. She decided to embrace it. (NOTE: I won't say how old she is but let's just say it surprized everyone who knew her because they all thought she was much younger. I myself was shocked. I thought she was 33. Even though we have been together for over 20 years so I probably wasn't thinking clearly. Which is just who I am.)

It happened June 15, 2008. After a year of warning her family members, Debbie actually went through with her promise. She said that on her birthday she would jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Of course we all thought she was kidding. Or nuts.

Debbie is a little nuts and she would be the first to admit it. But it turns out she was completely serious about the skydiving thing. It was right up to the final couple of days before she started getting "just a little" nervous. But still determined. We made the hour long drive to SkyDive Arizona in Eloy, AZ arriving about noon for her 12:30 reservation. She attended the required "training" session. That consisted of watching a 20 minute video that explained the numerous ways she could die attempting the jump. Followed by the signing of about a thousand pages of disclaimers so that if she did die we couldn't hold anyone other than Debbie responsible. (NOTE: I am pretty much irresponsible. Again, that is just who I am.)

Not a real confidence building experience so far.

Then there was the 3 hours of waiting. And watching others do their jumps with absolutely no problems, injuries or death. So that helped. Except that it was 114 degrees. We stayed hydrated by collectively drinking the equivilant of a 20,000 gallon swimming pool. Without the cholorine.

Arizona daily Star included Debbie in their feature "50 and Counting" 9/8/08

Click HERE to watch the video of the jump: http://vimeo.com/1636071