Soaring to 70

We had a family gathering at my sister’s house in Tennessee to celebrate the start of my new decade.  More than 20 arrived from Florida, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Missouri for fun, games, food, and reconnection. Best of all was the convention of ten young cousins who ranged in age from one to thirteen.  Three more were present in utero.

Communing with the cows

It was amazing to see how the young ones quickly reacquainted themselves and delved into exploring outdoors, feeding cows, chasing the family cats, and enjoying the swimming pool. Arguments and tears were few, except as a means of staying awake for just a few minutes longer.

What I’d wanted most was alone time with my two sons and they were taking me skydiving. I’d always meant to go, but along with aging has come more angst about heights and most things that remove my feet from the ground. However, as the family matriarch, I had a reputation to maintain so I readily agreed. Since we were in East Tennessee, I’d also get a great view of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Reading with my youngest grandchild.

Part of my motivation to be a daredevil was a desire to turn up my nose at the medical intervention of the past year – protocols, monitoring, unnecessary fear - and the reminder that there is an end of the road and I’m getting closer.  I also wanted to have something to talk about besides the sickness talk that prevails with groups of aging adults who are all afflicted with something and anxious to share. 

The night before our reservation for the jump, I didn’t sleep very well.  Admittedly anxious, I kept waking up in dreams of falling with a parachute that didn’t open. 

Before my sons and I departed for the birthday drop, I was asked multiple times if I felt ready.  Of course I was ready. I’d even brought along a copy of my will and DNR paperwork.  I later realized the DNR probably does no good if you fall from the sky because there is no resuscitation involved.

I said good-bye to everyone as we drove off; it was surreal, but I was ready.  The phone rang 20 minutes before our reserved time, notifying us the jump was cancelled due to high winds. I appreciate that the skydiving company was unwilling to take risks, and I also admit that I felt and continue to feel some sense of relief. 

Noses poked through the open windows, begging for food.

I had two captive sons, with the whole afternoon ahead of us.We changed plans and went to a nearby wild animal park, Briarwood Safari Park. 

sika deer

Driving through the wild acres, we were enchanted by buffalo, deer, zebra, elk, zebu, emu, and donkeys sticking their heads (some with large antlers) through the open windows of our car to get food. Doing so, they slimed everything they touched, including our hands and arms, and clothing. They also flung the bowls of chow all over the car.

son with zebra

We laughed at one another as we reacted to hairy beasts in our faces and the antics of these not so wild animals who were accustomed to begging. The emu bit my youngest when he thought the food bucket was being removed prematurely and I was drooled on by an enormous American buffalo who snorted in my face. The zebras were badly behaved and caused me to worry about fingers permanently disappearing, but we came through unscathed and immediately headed for a nearby car wash.

The emu before the bite

While the day didn’t turn out quite as we’d planned, the most important goal – being together – was a thumbs up. Having quality alone time with my sons was a priceless gift. Second best was returning to the rest of my family, including my daughters-in-law and my five grands. There, I still got cool grandmother credit for being willing to fall out of an airplane, even though it didn’t come to pass.

___

This was originally published in the Fernandina Beach News Leader on August 13, 2025

buffalo

American buffalo

buffalo

rocky mountain elk

Cleaning the car at the end of the safari tour

fallow deer