Geronimo!
On a non-pastry note, I hope you got a chance to check out Fearless Felix Baumgartner’s record-breaking 24-mile skydive yesterday. If you missed it you can watch it here. It’s amazing. Of course fifty years from now naked, drunken college kids will be doing this every weekend from the front porches of their orbiting, solar-powered fraternity houses…but for now it’s pretty darn impressive.
The little ones and I watched it live yesterday afternoon. Little 5-year-old Joan Pastry couldn’t believe what she was seeing. As for eight-year-old Jo, our little comic-to-be, she kept us amused with her usual running commentary. She couldn’t resist adding items to the pre-jump to-do list that Joe Kittenger, the previous skydive record holder, was reading over the intercom. Item 28, slide seat forward. Item 29, release seat belt. “Item 30 — scream like a girl!!”
It’s what I would have done, no question at all. Here’s to a great jump, Felix! Glad you made it back!
Having lived long enough to be able to watch everything from the Alan Shepard orbit, to the moon landing, and the development of the space station, I have to say this was one of the most mesmerizing things I’ve ever seen. I’m trying to imagine the thoughts and emotions Felix must have felt as he stood on that platform just prior to freefall. His line about standing above the world to realize how small he was, was almost poetic. And how grand that Joe Kittinger, the previous holder of the 52 year old record, could be in the control room during the attempt. Bravo to Baumgartner! Few people are willing to test the extent of their “great enthusiasms” and “great devotions” so completely. He deserves all the accolades his “triumph of high achievement” brings him. Not for him the life of the “cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” He understands that truly living occasionally involves being willing to put his butt on the line completely.
Amen!
And on that note I noticed a head cam video was just released. Apparently his spin was induced by his breaking of the sound barrier. Incredible. Thanks Chile!
http://gizmodo.com/5951725/first-head-cam-footage-from-daredevils-space-jump
– J
Hi Joe,
My family was all gathered around the computer watching the jump as well. It was amazing! It will never be something on my bucket list! However, I was highly impressed as well with the whole thing especially that after all that he was able to land gracefully on his feet. We also made up stories about the checklists. Such as an “Alien Contingency Check List.” After all, they did launch out of Roswell, NM! If I were him, I don’t know what I could do next to top that. Maybe he should try baking now. 😉
Eva
Haha! Yeah…just let that guy TRY to get a génoise to rise over two inches in height! Talk about feeling small, that sure does it to you.
Thanks for the laugh,
– Joe
The only sane thing about the whole exercise was him saying “I’m done” after it!
I’m not say it’s sane…just awfully darn cool. 😉
– Joe