Now that we’ve got Nick back to skydiving – and he’s proven he can do it safely – it’s time for him to learn how to fly all over again.
He sure isn’t the same up there, despite “being better than expected,” as friends keep telling him. (He’s made a total of four jumps so far.)
His legs are still weak and he has no arch. He’s basically getting to learn how to skydive all over again. The irony is this: he used to always tell students to slow down and enjoy the process, to embrace the frustration, because you only get to be “new” once. Well, Nick, I think you’ve proven yourself wrong buddy. This is a whole new ball game; learning to fly with a fused spine and two fake legs.
He’s gratefully stoked for the opportunity though. It really feels different around here. There is a lightness to the atmosphere in our home, an upswing of our general moods, an unspoken knowing that life isn’t going to get better; life IS better.
Life can go on. Life IS going on. Life isn’t just happening to us anymore. We are making it happen.
There has been a significant shift in perspective since his first jump. We’ve begun real, thoughtful, detailed talks about our future. Prior to the jump, our minds were so short sighted. We lived “foot step to foot step.” Quite literally.
It’s going to take some time for us to really gain momentum in life again, but with Nick skydiving again, I can say wholeheartedly that the ball is finally rolling.
Nick Fener 