Oak Trace Resident, 82, Takes an Unexpected Giant Leap
November 13, 2024
DOWNERS GROVE, IL — When given the opportunity, 82-year-old Lindy Pond took the leap. Literally. The resident of Oak Trace senior living community in this Chicago suburb fulfilled a longtime dream when she recently took a 10,000-foot plunge out of an airplane.
“Skydiving is something I always wanted to do but never had the opportunity for,” Pond said in a press release. She was one of 15 Oak Trace residents who went to lunch one day with no thoughts of skydiving.
“We went to Chicago Skydiving Center in Rochelle for lunch,” Pond recalled. “There, you can watch people skydiving while you’re eating. You also have the opportunity to sign up and give it a try if you want. I watched a couple of people and thought, ‘If I don’t try it now while I have the opportunity, I never will.’”
After watching a short video, Pond’s dive was done in tandem with an instructor.
ALSO: Oak Trace Senior Living Community Hosts Yoga ‘Goat-Together’
“We got on a plane and were up three miles high,” she said. “When you jump, you’re going 100 miles/hour. The instructor does all the work.”
She loved the experience.
“I had no second thoughts and wasn’t scared at all,” Pond enthused. “That’s my personality. I’ve been bungee jumping and zip-lining in Panama. I like risky things. The only thing I’m afraid of is water. I love boats but don’t throw me overboard. My kids used to say it’s because I don’t like to get my hair wet. My friends from Oak Trace stayed and watched. They couldn’t believe I did it. It’s not something the average person does, especially in our age group.”
She was the only resident who took to the sky that day.
Pond and her boyfriend, fellow Oak Trace resident John Rohlfing, find that the community offers many opportunities for activities, some more traditional than others. They’ve recently participated in a behind-the-scenes tour of Wrigley Field, a trip to Milwaukee, ballroom dance lessons, and more.
“There’s always the chance to try something new,” Pond elaborated.
Oak Trace, a life-care community, occupies more than 40 acres of landscaped grounds featuring gardens, walking paths, ponds, and abundant greenspace. It features private independent living apartments, as well as assisted living, memory care, skilled care, and rehabilitation. Oak Trace is owned by Lifespace Communities, a nonprofit organization with more than 45 years of experience in senior living.
