Bowled in the am but as the St. Patrick's day parade was on, we had the afternoon off.Mike and Erika wrapped up there last ball game. Four games in four days and Mike headed out at 5:30 this am to catch his plane. Erika now waiting for her Mom to arrive as we are.
Good news yesterday, second oldest granddaughter and her husband are expecting!!

 Alex and his crew of bomberos were waiting in the designated position when the ‘205’ arrived.  Jim circled the water reservoir then made a double pass over the spot on the hillside that Marsh pointed out then turned the machine and slowly approached the slope.  The pilot moved closer and closer until the main rotor blade was just short of the raising terrain by about a foot.  Instead of watching the approach, Marsh concentrated on the pilot, when Jim gave a sharp double nod of his head and shouted OKAY, Marsh nudged Elena.  She undid her seat belt then swung smoothly out onto the skid and in a continuous flowing motion lowered her body down beneath the helicopter until she was suspended from the skid by her hands.  Because of the sloping terrain she could not reach the ground so she shouted up to Marsh, “Short drop, I’m letting go!” And she dropped the last foot to the ground below, landed in a crouch and moved further under the helicopter.

 Marsh quickly followed her as her weight left the skid and a moment later was crouched beside her.  Mark, who had been watching while leaning out his door, called out on his helmet mike, “All clear.”

 Jim then eased the collective, applied full power and lifted straight up then turned the machine out and away from the slope.  The whole process was completed in less than four minutes.

 As soon as the draft of the helicopter was gone Marsh pulled Elena to her feet, grinning at her he said, “Great job, Elena, you did that really well.  I would love to give you a hug but I’m afraid we have an audience.”

 Her eyes bright with excitement Elena smiled back, “Thank you Marsh, it was fun.  And perhaps you will save the hug for another time?”

 “That I will do, I promise but now we must go to work.”  He turned and could see the helicopter had released its suction hose and was approaching the reservoir. “This will do for a starting point.  See that log lying up and down the slope over there?” When she replied in the affirmative, he added, “Use that as your termination point, I will go about the same distance the other direction.  When you get there toss your fusee back into the fire and then angle back down slope and we’ll meet down about 200 feet from where we are right now.”

 She nodded and said, “Bueno Marsh, I’ll be there shortly.”

 They both ignited their fusees and went off in opposite directions torching the grass and ground litter as they went.

 As they met below the string of fire, Marsh waved down the slope to where Alex and his crew were waiting, signaling them to come up.  The helicopter returned, roared over their heads, turned and at reduced speed commenced it’s bombing run.  Within moments the fire was being covered in a blanket of foaming liquid.

 When the run was completed, Jim again swung his machine out and headed down to land beside the suburban.  The fire crew arrived immediately after the bombing run was completed, continued on upslope and spread out along the length of what was left of the line of fire, beating and digging out what few sparks remained.  Marsh caught up to Alex, explained that he and Elena must go in order to catch their flight back to Mexico City.  Alex, finally showing some emotion replied with a huge grin, “ Bueno Senor, with this helicopter we will kill many fires, my men wish to learn the way you and the Senora jumped from the helicopter.”