Clarks Summit Borough Council President Gerrie Carey shares skydiving experience with granddaughter

FACTORYVILLE — When Lauren Berry, 23, told her grandmother, Gerrie Carey, 81, that she was going skydiving for her birthday, her response came as somewhat of a shock:

Her grandmother said she was going to join her.

But on the other hand, it wasn’t so shocking because Berry knew her grandmother is a daredevil at heart.

So, on a beautiful, sunny Sunday, Oct. 27, Berry and Carey, who is the Clarks Summit Borough Council president, shared the breathtaking experience at Seaman’s Airport. Dressed in her Mother Superior getup, Carey accompanied her granddaughter in training for the ultimate thrill. They later thought of each other while taking turns taking the plunge.

“She (Carey) was up there thinking that she didn’t want to disappoint me,” said Lauren. “Then when I went up there, I just kept thinking if my 81-year-old grandmother just jumped off the plane, so I have no excuse, so I have to do it.”

Gerrie and Lauren each shared what the view down below was like as they were parachuting 12,000 feet in the air. Lauren mentioned that she saw Lake Sheridan and Lake Winola. She also noticed that the Endless Mountains, which were originally formed together before erosion.

“It went by so quick, but at the same time, you feel like you’re falling forever,” she said.

Gerrie shared that she also saw Lake Sheridan, but to her, it looked like a puzzle from midair.

She also joked that she went up to Heaven and saw St. Peter. She mentioned that St. Peter told her that she has 25 years of work left to do on council, so he sent her back to Earth.

“It was one of my best experiences that I survived,” she said.