FRANKFORT — For many, 89 years old might conjure images of quiet days and gentle pursuits. But for Diane Anderson, a vibrant resident of Bedford, it simply means another opportunity to soar. Last Friday, Anderson, an Air Force veteran, proved that age is truly just a number by fulfilling a lifelong dream: skydiving.
“Try it before you end up getting like an old lady, like I am,” Anderson quipped, her youthful spirit shining through.
While Anderson is no stranger to the skies thanks to her military service, she had never before had the chance to literally “touch the clouds.” Her caregivers at Cedar Creek in Bedford made this extraordinary wish a reality as part of the Dream Come TRUE program for Cedarhurst Senior Living communities.
For Anderson’s family, the adrenaline-fueled adventure was hardly a surprise. They shared the following with Ashton Hackman of WTHR. “They said, ‘Your mom wants to jump out of an airplane, what do you think about that?’ And I said, ‘Great!'” shared her son, Mike Arsenal. “It’s what she wants to do, it’s been on her bucket list, so why not?”
Skydive Indianapolis facilitated the jump, providing Anderson with a tandem jumper and a specialized jumpsuit to ensure a safe landing. What took years to envision took mere minutes for the plane to reach its exhilarating altitude of 13,000 feet.
Helmet-mounted GoPro cameras captured every moment of Anderson’s incredible descent. “I told them I wasn’t nervous,” she recounted. “We got to see the cornfields, then Indianapolis, the cars down below. I would do it again.”
While it will forever be her first time, Anderson hinted that it might not be her last, jokingly suggesting she might even seek out a more “perilous stunt” for her next adventure. Her daring feat, covered by Ashton Hackman of WTHR, serves as a potent reminder that it’s never too late to reach new heights and embrace life’s most thrilling possibilities.
