What not to write if you're flying with the Knights

If you ever get the chance to ride with the U.S. Army's Golden Knights, you will be asked to sign a waiver -- a paper that basically says no one will sue the demonstration team or the U.S. Army if something bad happens.

Trust me on this: Do not write a note to your kids on this form. I did -- along the lines of "And if something does happen, tell my kids to be good and that I love them."

But I freaked out the Knights and am real sorry about that. No one has ever written a note on the waiver form.

They asked if I was suicidal. The answer is no. (Personally, I agree with author Kurt Vonnegut that taking one's life sets a bad example.) The Knights kindly agreed to let me fly, seatbelted, toward the front of the plane.

I didn't know that last month a civilian skydiving crew had the horrific experience of an observer aboard the plane leaping to his death.

Sgt. Pete White of the Golden Knights told me the story -- it has shaken the entire skydiving community.

(A public service note: If you are depressed for any reason, help is a mouse click away. If you need to talk, dial 800-273-TALK (8255). Local ATT or CenturyTel customers can dial 211 for confidential referrals.)

The Golden Knights are cool people. I found them direct, adventurous and individually very interesting. They have developed strong bonds as a team, which requires enormous trust. I'm glad they trusted me enough to join Friday's afternoon flight.

From time to time, they will take a passenger on the way down in what is called a tandem -- I'm too much of a nervous Nelly for that, but check out this YouTube video of a grandmother during a civilian tandem experience.

Did you go to the combined LibertyFest and Air Show? What did you think?