"Ready, set, go!" With a rousing shout, a group of skydivers leaps from an aircraft 13,000 feet above the earth. During freefall they build intricate formations before separating to deploy their parachutes and glide in for a gentle landing. Skydivers are a unique breed. Whether world-class competitors or recreational jumpers, all are bound by camaraderie based on the ultimate stakes: life or death.
It was into this world that Rita Ippoliti sought entrance. At the age of 40, she wanted to add adventure to a life grown dull. But the odds that an overweight woman with limited athletic ability would take to this extreme sport were stacked against her. Instructors and fellow students, most of them half her age and twice as agile, admire Rita’s fierce determination to defy the odds and achieve self-jumpmaster status. After reading Rita’s story, perhaps your dreams, like hers, will start Falling Into Place.
Testimonials
"A story of courage and the power of the human spirit. Falling Into Place portrays Rita Ippoliti’s journey in the sport of skydiving. Often humorous, sometimes tragic, this story will appeal to the heart of jumpers and non-jumpers alike." ---Dan Poynter, Author of The Skydivers Handbook and The Self-Publishing Manual
"Rita Ippoliti aspired to the skies. She wasn't the best skydiving student nor the worst but if her ability matched her heart, she would be a world champion. To those of us who know her, she is just that . . . a champion." --- Jim Bozarth, Jumpmaster and Member of the Flying Elvises Skydiving Team.
About the Author
A native of Philadelphia, Rita Ippoliti is an information technology professional with an MBA from LaSalle University. She has worked in staff and consultation positions both in and out of the IT field. Ippoliti has written feature articles on a variety of topics; recent articles have appeared in Skydiving Magazine and Parachutist. She currently provides web content for an intranet site of Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., and is on the editorial board of SkyXtreme.com.
Ippoliti holds a Basic Skydiving License issued by the United States Parachute Association, entitling her to jump at drop zones all over the world. She is working on her next book and on the next step in her ever-continuing quest for a life filled with adventure.