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500D

Today was the day Yours Truly hit the big 500.

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After 18 months of hard work and incessant fun, Your Pseudolatino has hit his first "big" skydiving milestone: 500 jumps. Of course skydiving is full of milestones, and I've already experienced quite a few: my 100th jump; my first two-aircraft formation load, my first 20+ point 4-way, my first (and second!) cutaway, my A, B, and C-licenses, my 200th, 300th, and 400th jumps. There has been no shortage of achievement in the last year and a half. But the 500th is a bit different. Along with a written examination, it entitles one to a D-license and all the privileges the governing body of US Skydiving, the USPA, is willing to bestow on a recreational skydiver. Beyond a D-license, there remain only ratings that take one beyond mere recreation and into the realm of the professional skydiver--Coaches, Instructors, and Performers (those who do special, restricted types of demonstrations . . . like jumping into the Superbowl to protect Janet's nipple from the audacious Justin, even when he was merely trying--no matter how miserably he may have failed--to bring sexy back).

Today--as I made my 500th exit and subsequently passed my license exam--I reached the lowest ramparts of the highest pinnacle of my sport, and have just cause to be proud of my accomplishment. I hereby give each and every one of you permission to genuflect and offer financial sacrifices unto me (please send untraceable cash donations to the PseudoLatino World HQ, c/o The Holy One). Alternatively, you may make donations to account number 15721 at Skydive Dallas. Your donations will go to a most worthy cause.

No really. I promise.

In any case, and for the record, I shared my 500th with 7 people: one friendly stranger and 6 people who have become dear to me over the last year. I trust all of these people--quite literally--with my life. I'd like to thank Laura, Matteo, Jim (aka Husband No. 1), Little Kimmy, Brett &Ron (my fellow Bastard Sons, they are) and Keith for making those 65 seconds extraordinarily memorable (and a note to Sara: if you aren't on my 1000th, the gloves are coming off!)

Once Matteo gives me a copy of the video he shot, I'll be sure to upload it to YouTube for your video pleasure.

In the meantime,

Blue Skies. . . .

Your,

---pseudoLatino

Posted by earwicker at 11:59 PM