Experiencing the ultimate

9 Feb 2008 will remain etched in my memory as one of the finest days of my life. I SKYDIVED!! WOW!!!
My age is 51 young and skydiving has been one of the ardent ambitions of my life.
I joined the army at the age of 20, thinking I'll have enough opportunities to fulfill my ambition. Unfortunately due to an accident, I lost all the fingers of both hands(the details will be narrated some other time) and had to leave in a very short span of time, leaving my dream unfullfilled. The next couple of decades passed in a whirl of trying to make a successful living (not a life) untill one day I looked back at it all and discovered that life is actually passing me by!! What had I done with my life? That day I decided that I'll get out of the rat race. It took time, it isn't easy to just stop working, one has to eat, support 2 small children etc. however in time it happened.
I withdrew from the race and decided to devote my life to do what I enjoyed and what I dreamed.
There are a lot of things to do. I discovered that I'm more busy now then when I was working, but now i'm doing things I enjoy and at my own pace.
One of the things on top of my list was skydiving.
It was an impracticle dream. The armed forces were the only people who conducted these jumps. The only other options was to travel outside the country. I was however told that I would not be allowed to jump because of my injury anywhere in the world(you require fingers to control your parachute and pull the cord), I wonder if it is true? Anyway I kept dreaming of diving anyway and secretly in my heart I alwas felt that I'll be able to do it. How it would happen I didn't know, I only knew that it would happen.
2008 dawned and suddenly it looked as if my dream would be realised. There were problems last minute set - backs and all the usual problems, however on 9 Feb approx at 4 pm I achieved my dream.The experience was unique and mindboggling, the ultimate high.
What does it prove? If you have a dream, keep it alive, nurse it and always remember it. You will achieve it, how it happens is not your concern. It will be done. On top of it all I'm told by my instructors that I'm the only person in the country and perhaps in the world who has skydived with such a handicap, I do't know if it is true but this has also got its own material reward.
Live your life without regrets. It's the only one you have.