Monday, June 9, 2008

More Than Meets the Eyes


A 29-year-old New York man leaped out of a plane at 10,000 feet with a camera but no parachute Saturday.

His body was found next to a house with a damaged roof, police said. I wonder what caused the roof damage. Oh, I think I know the answer to that question—a skydiver who jumped from 10,000 feet with no parachute!

Sloan Carafello of Schenectady, was supposed to be observing on the flight; however, when an instructor, student, and videographer went out the door, he followed them.

Robert Rawlins, pilot and owner of the Duanesburg Skydiving Club, said he was flying the single-engine plane and had begun to close the door when Carafello jumped.

Several questions come to mind here. Did Mr. Carafello simply get caught up in the moment? Did he experience the thrill of flying and want to follow those who jumped? Could it have been that he was afraid to land in a plane? Or, as I might suspect, did Mr. Carafello simply use this method to commit suicide? More than likely, that is what took place.

In my job, I often have to fly to meetings and conferences. While I do it, I don’t like it. I never have liked flying. As a matter of fact, I don’t really like heights a great deal. So, when I have to, I will fly—after all, my job requires it, they pay me to do my job, and would probably fire me if I didn’t do it! But, they can’t pay me to enjoy it.

So, if you ever hear that I died in a plane crash, you will know that I was working, on my way home from work, or headed to work. However, if you ever get word that I died while parachuting, let me ask you to remember this blog and call the local police department—because if I died parachuting, you can know I did not jump under my own free will—someone pushed me out the door! Have the police investigate. Have the police check out the pilot, the others in the plane at the time. Have the police check out the person who signed me up. Someone, one of those people, will be guilty of murder—my murder! They either knocked me out, drugged me, or threw me out of the plane. I can promise you I did not jump under my own free will.

My sympathy goes out to the Carafello family. Who knows what drove him to this point and to this decision. It must have been bad, whatever it was.

Should I die in the same way, don’t just show sympathy, do something! Call someone. Anyone! Who knows, there might even be a cash reward from Crimestoppers for doing so!

2 comments:

  1. I'm with you on the flying Steve! I would much rather drive and take longer than get into one of them big birds. My stomach doesn't handle the take off, the landing or any rough air in between. Besides, I like to gawk as I drive. The only thing to gawk at in a plane are the stewardesses, I mean flight attendants, and that ain't all its cracked up to be! :) Small plans are even worse. Whoever pushes me will have to pry my cold, hard fingers from around someone's neck to get me off that plane. I just hope there is someone who has sympathy! :)

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  2. I also hate the taking off and landing...and air turbulence. I also don't like not being in control of the plane. If I could just sit with the pilot and help him/her fly, I'd be okay. I told a pilot friend that one time and he just laughed. He said, "Steve, you'd rather not know all that takes place in the cockpit."

    Well, needless to say, that really helped me overcome my fear of flying!

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I can't wait to read what you have written.