“Go big or go home” may be a philosophy many aspire to but “look before you leap” is still pretty good advice. As the video below demonstrates, there is little doubt Laverne Everett tries to live life to the fullest, embracing her 80th birthday with her first tandem skydive. When things go horribly wrong, Everett remained calm and despite almost completely slipping out of her harness, she is more concerned that her modesty was restored than the fact that she was just narrowly escaped death. Even months after the event, the thrill-seeking senior told Today’s Matt Lauer that “knitting is boring”and she wasn’t scared during the jump, at least not until she watched the video.

While we can applaud Everett’s fearless drive to make her dreams come true, the actual jump epitomized a completely difference life lesson – safety first.

Everett is not alone in celebrating a milestone birthday by jumping out of a plane. The 41st President of the United States President, George H.W. Bush, has marked his 75th, 80th and 85th birthdays by skydiving. Fortunately, the elder Bush’s sole and tandem jumps were positively uneventful compared to Everett’s. According to The Associated Press, “Bush’s first parachute jump came when his plane was shot down over the Pacific in 1944 during World War II. He bailed out at 1,500 feet after a bombing mission over ChiChi Jima. His two crewmates didn’t make it. In 1997, Bush fulfilled a wartime promise he made to himself that someday he’d jump from a plane for fun.”

So, whether you are trying to change a painful memory into a more positive experience, like Former President George H.W. Bush, or are checking things off your bucket list, like Laverne Everett, celebrate your next birthday in style. Just remember, you might to look before you leap.

If you or a family member is no longer able to live independently, contact CalRegistry to find out about assisted living services or facilities throughout California and continue to live your life to the fullest.