Pleasant surprise

[patmoore]

In the sixties and seventies my life pretty much revolved around skydiving. I logged a little over 2000 jumps before hanging it up. That's when I first got involved in photography. Most of my shots were of exits and landings, not freefall shots. I had forgotten that a fellow jumper once asked me to use his camera and shoot him in freefall. He recently got in touch with me through Facebook and sent me these two shots I had taken of him.

[Ian]

Re: Pleasant surprise

I know Facebook is often derided and others are suspicious of it but it has reconnected me with dozens of old friends and acquaintances from all around the world and I rate it very highly. Even a classmate who I last saw when I was 13 40 years ago, when we were neighbours in the Philippines (her Dad worked at the US Embassy in Manila) got in touch.

Love the pictures Pat!

Ian

[patmoore]

Re: Pleasant surprise

You're absolutely right Ian. My first jump certificate had been signed by Lew Sanborn and Jacques Istel, holders of D (expert) licenses # 1 and 2 in 1962. Over the years Lew's signature had completely faded away. Through Facebook I tracked him down in Arkansas and contacted him. Believe it or not he was still jumping and approaching the age of 80! He had over 7000 jumps. I explained the purpose of my search for him and he encouraged me to mail the certificate to him. He signed it again and sent it back with a very nice personal note. Both are treasured keepsakes.



Pat Moore D-1814

[Ian]

Re: Pleasant surprise

Now that is one amusing photo

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: Pleasant surprise

Pat Moore D-1814

[/QUOTE]

That's not your Date of Birth is it Pat?

Sorry, it's a really good image and you amaze me with your Extreme Sports. The avatar? Do I recall you being a Weather Forecaster in your past?

[patmoore]

Re: Pleasant surprise

No, it's not the date of birth It's my parachutist license number. They're well into six figures now. I was born in 1946. Longevity is in my family. My dad turns 93 next month, his sister turned 91 today and their older brother made it to 95. One of their uncles lived to 103.

Yep, I was the morning meteorologist at the NBC affillate ( Channel 8 ) in Tampa from 1973 - 76. Between shows I taught Meteorology and Climatology in the Geography Department of the University of South Florida.

Florida was great weather for year round jumping. I appeared in a couple of documentary movies back then. Here are a couple of short clips from "The Endless Fall"

The Endless Fall

[Barr1e]

Re: Pleasant surprise

No, it's not the date of birth It's my parachutist license number. They're well into six figures now. I was born in 1946. Longevity is in my family. My dad turns 93 next month, his sister turned 91 today and their older brother made it to 95. One of their uncles lived to 103.

Yep, I was the morning meteorologist at the NBC affillate ( Channel 8 ) in Tampa from 1973 - 76. Between shows I taught Meteorology and Climatology in the Geography Department of the University of South Florida.

Florida was great weather for year round jumping. I appeared in a couple of documentary movies back then. Here are a couple of short clips from "The Endless Fall"

The Endless Fall

You have fitted much in Pat - I have some catching up to do, especially as I am a few years ahead of you.

Regards. Barr1e

[Pops]

Re: Pleasant surprise

A life begging to be set out in a book ?

[patmoore]

Re: Pleasant surprise

A life begging to be set out in a book ?

Kind of you to suggest that but there are too many adventures not attained yet. A 400 foot bungee jump in New Zealand is on the bucket list. Someone in my hometown recently asked if I'd lived here my whole life and I replied, "Not yet"! Actually I've lived in Japan, Germany, and several states in the US.

I hope to retire soon and focus more on ski and snowboard racing. I got my "15 minutes" six years ago but there's room for improvement. Note - the guy in the white helmet signing autographs in the background is ski legend Phil Mahre.



Heading for Alaska in three weeks. Packing a fair amount of camera gear.....