UPDATE: Megan corrected us. She said there were only 2 tandem jumpers.
On August 19, we moved Megan back to college on the other side of Florida. There’s a stretch of highway where there’s nothing but sugar cane fields covering land that once was part of the Everglades. Along this stretch, hundreds of swallows sweep across the terrain, nabbing insects on the fly, swooping across the two-lane road. They’re especially thick around dusk and seem oblivious to cars.
So on the way back, around dusk, we entered this stretch. The swallows swooped and dived (literally ‘sky-dived’), often winging away from our car at the last second. Then two of them, one after another, hit our windshield. At some deep level, I sensed it might be an omen.
On August 30, 11 days after we moved her back to college, we met her halfways across the state for her second skydive, for her 20th birthday. Her appointment was for 12:30, but they didn’t get airborne until around 2 PM. She was jumping tandem, with an instructor.
Are we seeing a pattern here? 2nd dive, 20th birthday, 2 swallows, a tandemn jump at 2 PM. The tandem jumpers leave the plane last and there were three of them. We were standing outside, watching the jumpers with four of Megan’s friends. And suddenly, something happened to Megan’s parachute. It seemed to just… well, fly away.
An instructor standing next to me said, “Wow, look at that.”
“What just happened?” I asked.
“The first chute failed. Don’t worry. They’ll freefall for a few seconds, then the second chute will open.”
And that’s exactly what happened. They landed safely and afterward Megan said she didn’t realize anything unusual had happened.
Later, another skydiver said it’s an unusual occurrence. It didn’t happen for him until his 1,200th dive.
So an event 11 days ago (there’s another 2!) related to Megan’s skydive. An unnerving synchronicity.
Today, 8/31, is her actual birthday! So happy birthday, Megger!
Diva and two with the same root? Now that's surprising!
Interesting theory, Toumai. You've now given us a research project, Jim!
It really gets interesting when you realize that the original calendar was 10 months. Two months were added (I believe January and February).
So why didn't Augustus and Julius take over those months or any other month for that matter,why Quintilis and Sextilis?!! I think it's because they want to erase something.
If anybody out there knows, I would like to know more about the synchronicities between Julius and Augustus Caesar and why both July & August have 31 days.
Megan also pointed out that there were just two pairs of tandems skydivers, not three, as we said in the post.
Oops, meant to also say "Happy B Day Megan!!
Oh!!!! I am so glad that Megan is celebrating on Terra Firma. Enjoy Birthday Girl!
As a parent, I've often found comfort in not being too aware of what is happening in-the-moment of my daughters lives. I'm still alive today because I often hear about the almost-died-scenarios after the fact. Then I can just give hugs and celebrate what didn't happen. It's better that way. 🙂
Safe. Grateful. 20 years, passed in a blur.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEGAN, you little daredevil. I just noticed your response to Toumai, about the virgin goddess. She really is pretty enough…and I am so happy she is safe!
Sansego – interesting story. Undoubtedly, not every bird hitting a window or windshield is an omen. Years ago, I remember robins that had headed south for the winter used to get intoxicated on some sort of berry and would fly into sliding glass doors because they didn't see them. Or perhaps because they believed their reflections were other robins.
whipwarrior – like your dad's wisdom!
We'll pass on the Indy antics!
Thanks, Trish! That gem of wisdom comes from my Dad, who is a professional aircraft mechanic. Unless that baby's falling out of the sky—stay inside! Or you could try Indy's approach in Temple of Doom! 🙂
Happy Birthday to your daughter!!
That is a strange omen. I am so glad she landed safely!
Sometimes synchronicities are elusive. We didn't pick up on the synchronicity until I thought of the swallows as skydivers sweeping across the front of our car. Then, remembering the two that hit the windshield from the week before, we put it together.
Maybe it was a potential "exit point" that her soul decided not to take. The prevalence of twos and the symbology of birds hitting the windshield would be disconcerting.
A couple years ago, at a church retreat, a few of us were admiring the view of the Puget Sound from the window of the main building on the island. All of a sudden a bird thumped into the window. One lady kept saying that it was a bad omen, which was the first time I heard such a thing.
I don't recall anything bad happening that weekend, though. So maybe just a superstition?
I'm with you, Whip Warrior!
– Trish
neat, trish! i love it when connections can be expanded!
Good point, Gypsy, about hermes. Hermes is also Mercury, and in astrology, Mercury rules both Gemini and Virgo (my sign and Megan's),and also rules communication and travel.
Happy Birthday, Megan. You are brave as parents.I don't think I could watch, but you have to be proud of her.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEGAN!
ok, parents, that must have been more than just a little disconcerting!!!
hmmm…my mind wanders to the birds and their being omens – even messengers of the gods? weren't "winged" sandals a symbol of hermes? and he protected travelers? sorry – sometimes my mind wanders in weird ways – but i kept having a visual image of the birds and hermes jumped into mind –
very interesting that megan was unaware of the happenings! a good thing!
See, that just goes to prove that there's no good reason to jump out of a perfectly functional airplane. I'm glad everything turned out okay. Happy Birthday, Meg!