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| The POPS award, the ladies, my TBM Award |
When I was in Elsinore last month, weathered out for three of the four days of skydiving that were scheduled, our organizers intuitively assigned us ladies a videographer on the last jump so that we could attempt a two-point six-way skydive. (It wouldn't have counted if we didn't have a video to prove it, I found out). POPS (Parachutists Over Phorty Society) has been around for awhile, and they have a few offshoot groups, such as SOS (Skydivers Over Sixty), JOS (Jumpers Over Seventy), and JOE (yep, you guessed it: Jumpers Over Eighty).
I had been expecting the SOS award, but I was puzzled by the card assigning me TBM #73, until I realized that TBM stands for the Tiny Broadwick Memorial award! Who was Tiny Broadwick, you wonder? Well, I had heard of her for years, and some of my friends even met her in her later years. She was a very interesting woman who set all kinds of records. You can read about her on this
Parachute History page. She made her first jump at the age of 15 in 1908. Now POPS has begun this memorial award in her name, for all-women skydives. The biggest one of these was the
Jump For the Cause skydive made in September 2009, with 181 women in a formation. (That link takes you to the post I wrote at the time, with pictures.)
But what makes my little six-way skydive special is that all of the women on it are over sixty years of age, and two of us are over seventy. Frankie and I could get a videographer and make a two-way and set several records, since right now JOS has no TBM records at all. There are a few perks to being in advanced years. Not many, but there are a few. Can you tell I am really pleased by this award?
I would also like to thank all of my readers who left a message for Gene about the loss of his bird. I sent him the link and he appreciates the condolences you offered him. I also went to the library to pick up the book Murr Brewster (from
Murrmurrs) recommended to me in her comment. It's called
The Bluebird Effect: Uncommon Bonds with Common Birds, and it's simply magnificent. Written by naturalist and storyteller Julie Zickefoost, I have been unable to put it down. With that, I'll sign off and get back to the book!
:-)
Aah DJan - you continue to thrill us with each n every post. Congratulations on your award and go break some more records. We will anticipating them :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your award! I know you're over 70, but I still have trouble believing it - you're so full of life and energy.
ReplyDeletehow cool! i just love that you love to do this. :)
ReplyDeleteI had to enlarge and savor the photo and award. I'm sooo proud of you and your friends who received the award.
ReplyDeleteWhat an accomplishment! I know that I will be seeing your name and photo in the next level(s) to come. I'm anticipating that there will have to be an acronym for ladies over 90 jumping....just because of you. You go girl!
Hugs to you, Jan....
J.
wow congrats on the award...i know someone famous now...smiles. really cool history behind the person the award is named after as well...you amaze...smiles.
ReplyDeleteDear DJan, I'm really glad that you've gotten a TBM award for your formation skydive with the other women. And doing that when you're over 70 seems to me to be a reward in itself.
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased also to learn that you shared your last posting and its comments with Gene. That must have touched him deeply. Peace.
Gee, congrats on the award, DJan. You have every reason to be proud of yourself and accomplishments.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, DJan! And I checked out that Jump for the Cause skydive (with 181 women). Wow! That is impressive!
ReplyDeleteBut so is your six-way with all the women over sixty. You *should* be pleased.
Look at you! Yes, you should be "pleased" at the very least!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your award. Be proud. There really are jumpers over 80? Always nice to have a goal to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Julie had a book. I do lurk on her blog. She knows her critters.
Congratulations on your award. Anything we get at this age is a bonus. I'm sure you'll be around for many more.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you, DJan. You have every right and reason to be proud. You are one cool woman!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you mentioned that book. It was one of my Christmas gifts to Frank. It's about time I read it now. ;)
You are amazing! Congrats! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the award! And now I've got a new book for my growing list of books to read.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what records you'll break tomorrow!
Well done, DJan. Thanks for also sharing the picture of one of your earliest jumps. (That is you, isn't it?)
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, another record. But you being you, that is to be expected. Just please don't break your neck on the way to breaking your next record.
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
Congratulations. That is just a wonderful award - and so deserved.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the award DJan. You have every right to be excited, it is a great accomplishment. I predict there are more record setting events in your future.
ReplyDeleteWell now....anything to do with skydiving is beyond my comprehension. [the height especially]....so with that said, I think your award AND your stamina and bravery tops ALL. CONGRATULATIONS.
ReplyDeleteNow, "Gene"...is that St. Nick? Nicholas. [Seriously, I seem to recall his profile image as the very same]!!! Sorry to hear of his loss.
Congrats! Every jump deserves an award for simple bravery in my book.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I opened this post and saw the awards--yippee!! You all deserve these, without question! How exciting! So proud of you--CONGRATS!!! :):)
ReplyDeleteGood for you! Congrats and hope you have as many more years as you would like!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your award! It's one I will never share with you, more's the pity, because I'd be dead before I ever reached the ground. Oh, and it's actually "Zickefoose," not Zickefoost, but that's okay--she once got cited as Julie Lickamoose.
ReplyDeleteWay to go! I so enjoy reading about these records and facts in the area of sky sports.
ReplyDeleteTiny Broadwick sounds like quite a character - especially for her time!
My husband loves reading history, and had his nose in a book about D-Day just the other day, when he challenged those of us in the room to guess how much a paratrooper weighed (fully geared) at that time. I don't remember the exact number, but it was well over 400 pounds! He went on to share everything on their person. Incredible.
Congratulations D-Jan. Well deserved!
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