Back in June, I told you about my daughter-in-law Starlene, a.k.a. Star, and her plan to jump out of an aircraft at 10,000 feet near Victoria, B.C.
Before telling you what happened, I’ll repeat the basic story for those of you who may not have read the earlier account. Following a short-term mission trip to Guatemala, Star decided to raise money for Wells of Hope, a charitable organization that drills wells for villages that lack clean water.
The idea to ask people to sponsor her skydiving feat came right out of her own life experience. Her husband, a commercial pilot, flies the airplane from which skydivers jump, so she knew what such a stunt would entail.
The story becomes almost unbelievable when you know that Star has a paralyzing fear of airplanes, especially light planes. In fact, until the day of the jump, she had flown only once in a light aircraft. In Star’s mind, her crippling fear made the project worthwhile.
She thought if she could overcome her worst fears and so help the people of Guatemala, maybe others would offer financial help. Many took the challenge, including a few Wellington Advertiser readers.
Star and her husband, Ken, set the jump date for July 25 and spent all their spare time fundraising. When the day arrived, feeling fairly calm and strapped in front of an experienced skydiver for what they call a tandem jump, Star sat on the floor of the aircraft as it climbed to 10,000 feet. Only the pilot has a seat in a jump plane. She said she felt little fear until the door opened, but then terror gripped her, she stiffened, and clamped on tightly. Ignoring her wild protests, they pried her free and pushed her from the aircraft. The jump master later said, “We wouldn’t have done that normally, but she made us swear to get her out no matter what she said or did.”
Over the telephone, when I asked Ken if he turned the plane so he could see her going down, he said, "”, on the 30-second, free-fall part of the jump, I saw nothing but flailing arms and legs.” I could imagine the mischievous grin on his face as he added, “I’ve done what many men would like to do: I threw my wife out of an airplane.”
I asked Star if she prayed on the way down. “No,” she said. “I screamed all the way. I didn’t see anything of the beautiful scenery. I don’t even remember reaching the ground or the trip from the landing place back to the airport.”
Star succeeded on at least two levels. I doubt if she will ever make another parachute jump, but she knows she can face her worst fears head on and overcome them. She also knows that when called upon to help people in need, she can make a commitment and carry through regardless of the personal cost.
Indeed, the few thousand dollars she raised will make life better for some people in Guatemala; maybe even save lives.
In an email to me, Star referred to herself as “Crazy Star.”
I’m not sure the name suits, but surely the world would become a much better place if we had more Crazy Stars.