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  • Aileen Geiling feels the effects of the wind on her face and hair while on a free fall. Photo provided.

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  • Aileen Geiling sits on the floor of the aircraft prior to her sky dive. Photo provided.

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January 4, 2012

80-year-old marks birthday with sky dive

ALVIN REINER Press-Republican

ELIZABETHTOWN — While many are content blowing out candles for their 80th birthday, Aileen Geiling wanted to celebrate with the wind blowing through her hair — at 9,000 feet.

Aileen and her husband, Gerry, headed to Saratoga with two sons and a daughter, who went, as Aileen put it, "to hold Gerry's hand."

Describing the flight, the Elizabethtown woman said, "We were in a small plane with only one seat for the pilot, and I sat on floor with the sky-diving instructor. I had to scootch back, turn to the left, and the door sprung open. I thought, 'Oh, my God,' and said a lot of prayers. I knew I wasn't really afraid. I was just so excited."

As for the 45 seconds of free fall, "It was just, 'Wow,'" Aileen exclaimed.

"It was a wild day," Gerry remembered. "Believe it or not, she's afraid of heights. I remember her yelling and screaming. I bet they could hear her for 100 miles."

Aileen explained her decision to undertake the adventure.

"It goes back to when I was 16 and went to Coney Island with a church group. I went on the parachute jump, and then asked Father if I could do it twice. I never talked about it much but often thought about it."

When her family gathered for her 80th, Aileen was presented with a certificate to "help you check something off your bucket list."

After the jump, Aileen lamented, "It was over too fast. But as Jim, my instructor, said, 'It's the law of gravity.' They (the pilot and instructor) were very professional. I was the model, as there were younger people jumping that day."

After Aileen landed, her 8-year-old grandson ran over, grabbed her by the harness and said, "Wait till I go back to school and tell all my friends."

"I would do it again in a heartbeat," Aileen said.

Email Alvin Reiner at:

rondackrambler@yahoo.com

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