For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides,

that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

An emotional day of new beginnings, spontaneous road trips, closure and endings. Today we were exactly where we needed to be. Offering support and aid when nothing else could be said or done. When a family member in our skydiving community passes from the surly bonds of this earth, we all grieve, knowing that for those left behind, the pain is greatest. For the dearly departed, their spirit is free and they’ve been granted eternal wings.

Rest in Peace David. Thank you for the breathtakingly beautiful sunset tonight.

High Flight

by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air….

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark nor even eagle flew—

And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.