What an awesome day! I'm not 100% sure who took this picture - I stole it from Facebook!

When I arrived at Orange, I really didn't have many expectations. I was happy that both Jennifer and Julie were able to come and visit for awhile! Julie brought her darling little boy Ethan and went up to the playground. It's amazing how fast Ethan is growing - he's almost 2!

The day turned out to be quite spectacular for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I met a kick ass female skydiver named Merriah. Prior to the event, I didn't know anything about her. A couple of girls had met her at Skydive Suffolk and Lucie made arrangements for her to come to our event.

After some of the girls expressed an interest in doing WSCR attempts, I approached Merriah to see how I could help make this happen. I wasn't sure what to expect, but she completely "got me". In addition to being a bad ass, she's a DZ mother hen - just like me!

Merriah spent part of the day teaching the new girls about freestyle.  It turns out - Merriah is a National Freestyle Champion!  Together, she and her husband, Karl, formed Team Flew-id and competed in multiple USPA National Skydiving competitions. 

When she finished up what she was doing, we put together two WSCR attempts. Unfortunately, neither one of them came together.  Merriah decided it was time for something smaller and suggested a Pink Mafia Initiation jump.  Awesome!

I got my PMS number in September of 2007.  Since then, I hadn't heard much about The Pink Mafia. Once the USPA started SIS, it seems like The Pink Mafia had faded away. Merriah told me that she was the only remaining active delegate. The women that started the group had passed the torch on to her.  Wow!

When I was initiated, we had just one Barbie.  I was surprised when Merriah said we'd each have our own. She'd dive out of the plane with the Barbies, pass them out and then we'd do the "Hokie Pokie". OMG...I loved this idea! Super fun, super easy, and super awesome! Debbie and Gina would be earning their numbers and I'd just be along for fun.  I absolutely loved Merriah's positive energy! We had a blast on the jump!

When I landed from the jump, I saw Debbie on the ground.  Yikes! She had hurt her ankle/foot.  I volunteered to take her to the hospital for an x-ray. Before we left the DZ, I said goodbye to Merriah. I was happy that I had met her! As I was leaving the DZ, she told me that she wanted me to be a Pink Mafia Delegate.  OMG!!!!

The hospital wasn't too busy and Debbie got back for an x-ray quickly. They told her that she didn't have any broken bones, but Debbie thought they might be wrong. She planned to follow-up with another doctor. It's such a bummer to be injured! 

We managed to get back to the hangar in time for dinner and the door prize drawing. I didn't win a door prize, but Merriah won 2 and subsequently gave them away.  She's just that awesome!

I'm not sure how this happens, but yet again...I missed the group shot!  Oh well...Here's a picture of the bunch of the ladies dressed up in their costumes!