Paul and the Hang Glider

Paul had returned from Vietnam, was working in Bakersfield as a Glasier was married to Jan and thought "hang gliding" was a hoot. A friend had a glider and of course Paul had to give it a try. It couldn't be more fun that jumping out of airplanes or launching yourself off the side of a helicopter over the jungels of Asia. Or so he thought.

We all went out where there was a very high hill. We, the spectators stayed on the flat land while the daring duo went up to the top of the hill assembled the hang glider and took a running jump out into space. It was magic - the wind caught the wings, a flight on the thermals was quiet and exciting. The ride lasted quite a few minutes and then decent to the area where we earth bound creatures were awaiting the "air man". Why it was a "piece of cake". The glider was quickly gathered into the awaiting truck and away they drove to the top of that hill again for another "great experience". It wasn't until a few precious moments later that we learned just what kind of an experience it would turn out to be, for all of us.

Nothing seemed different - at least to any of us at the top or the bottom of the hill. Paul took his running start and left the top of the hill. For the first few seconds he was off like a bird and then the glider took a sudden upward movement, which was followed with a sudden drop like a rock.
The glider and "air man" headed straight for terra ferma. Once that downward turn started there was no notice of a change in the direction it was going. Just as suddenly as the glider had been airborne, it was now a heap of junk, with a crumpled human being under it.

Jay, Jan and the rest of the party started running up the hill to where the glider had crashed. I was not in any hurry to see the damage, or Paul. After all the terror I had gone through looking at the pictures of him repelling in the jungles of Vietnam, knowing the danger that was there, I had no desire to quickly learn the fate of my son from this short excursion into "fun". Paul had
survivied the crash, but was pretty badly banged up. Jay put him in the car and rushed him into Taft to the emergency room at the small hospital there. I think it was the first time Paul had known "real pain". He was having a great deal of it over the major part of his body. It was apparent he had broken his wrist and we weren't all that sure about his shoulder. X-rays were taken and the judgement was made. Surgery could have been used to repair the damage to the wrist, the Dr. however believed setting it would be less invasive. So a cast was applied and a long recovery time entered into.

Thus ended Paul with the Hang Glider. It was repairable and would not show that much damage, but the "air man" didn't come out so lucky. Is there a moral to this story? The only one I can think of is: "not everything that looks like so much fun really is".

Written this 14th day of May 2009
by: Eileen Rosenberg