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No Age Limit On Fun

Ed. Note:  We know you will enjoy this report from our Lakeview Terrace correspondent, who is reporting on a group of adventurous residents who went skydiving earlier this month.  A group of unique individuals celebrating the ability to still do amazing things!
By Mary Pat Giffin
    Lakeview Terrace residents recently traded solid ground for blue skies, turning a bucket-list dream into reality with tandem skydives that delivered an unforgettable rush of adrenaline, freedom, and exhilaration. Thanks to the experienced instructors at Skydive DeLand, every jumper felt safe, supported, and confident from takeoff to touchdown.
    As for me, I had absolutely no intention of jumping.
    I was there with a notebook in hand, gathering material for the ‘Outpost’. But Lucas Rolim, a skydiver with 15 years of experience, had a different idea. He insisted that the only way to truly understand and describe the sensation of free fall was to experience it firsthand.
    He was right.
    The experience was nothing short of ‘airgasmic’—a heart-pounding blend of terror, excitement, and pure joy unlike anything I've ever felt. One moment, I was sitting at the open door of the plane, 14,500 feet above the earth, wondering what on earth I was doing. Next, I was soaring through the sky. Somehow, I trusted Lucas completely. He was charismatic.
    Nearby, Pattie Molnar sat calmly smiling, looking far more relaxed than I felt.  "Exhilarating, intense, wonderful, OMG!"
    Those were just a few of the reactions from the 16 Lakeview Terrace residents who made the jump in DeLand. It was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that won't soon be forgotten.
    If it weren’t for Activities Director Susan Martin, this wouldn’t have been possible.   She made the calls and arrangements. Pattie Molnar, 97, was the instigator. It was on her bucket list.
     “It was wonderful, and I’d do it again,” she said. “It’s the most excitement we’ve had at LVT in the eight years I've lived here.”
    Adding to the excitement were more than 40 resident spectators who cheered, applauded, and whooped it up as each skydiver landed safely back on earth. Several staff members came out to support the group, including Community Nurse Liz, Lead Server Sharlette - who thoughtfully arrived with two dozen doughnuts for the jumpers - along with Pamela, another server, and Gwen, from administration.
    At 88 years-old, Don Stitsinger was delighted to cross skydiving off his bucket list.
    "I was satisfied," he said with a grin. "Talk about landing on the seat of your pants. It was an amazing experience."
    Not everyone escaped without a few souvenirs from the adventure. Rosalee Horvath experienced some balance issues after landing, while others reported mild nausea and a bit of ear popping. A  little dizziness seemed like a small price to pay for such an incredible experience.
    For 85-year-old Jean Gibson, the anticipation was part of the thrill.
"The anticipation was half the fun," she said. "I never thought about doing it before. My only worry was keeping my knees up."
    Her final words captured not only the spirit of the day, but perhaps the spirit of Lakeview Terrace itself:
    "I want to keep on moving because there's so much left to life."