Brownsburg Meadows resident Judy Robbins has seen a lot in her 80 years on this earth, but one of these memories recently inspired her to climb 13,000 feet above it and jump from a plane.

Robbins said it was actually a television segment she saw while growing up that featured imagery of jet planes streaking through the air and accompanied by a narration from John Magee’s poem, “High Flight.” It was used to tell viewers that the broadcast day has ended, she explained.

Although television stations stopped broadcasting the segment years ago, Robbins still remembers its parting words and recited them on the day of her jump.

“It was like reaching out and touching the face of God,” she said. “Ever since I saw this, I felt like this is the closest I can be.”

The chance to experience what could be called a spiritual event for Robbins began as a bucket-list wish.

“As soon as I heard her bucket list wish was to jump out of an airplane, I said we are getting this done,” Brownsburg Meadows Activates Director Tonya Pearcy said. “When you are working with seniors, you don’t know exactly how long they have to fulfill that wish. So finally getting it to happen is life-changing for them, their families and all of us who get to witness it.”

Pearcy got things off the ground by arranging the jump through the Twilight Wish Foundation, an organization devoted to seniors in long-term care.

“She (Pearcy) has been right there every day saying, ‘Judy I’m so glad you are doing this,’” said Robbins.

Robbins also credits her family for the support they’ve shown as well.

“She has wanted to do this for a long time,” said her son Mark Miller. “I think she will do great and I hope it fulfills the thrill that she’s been wanting.”

For Robbins, however, simply learning that she would be able to make the jump was thrilling.

“I’m exhilarated and I’ve felt this way for two weeks,” she said while staff members from Skydive Indianapolis secured her harness.

Finally, Robbins entered the plane at Frankfort Municipal Airport, Frankfort, IN, and jumped from 13,000 feet as her family looked on. After landing safely 15 minutes later she said she felt a little shaky but “great” nonetheless.

She was met on the ground with hugs from a dozen family members, one of which was Tina Miller, Robbins’ daughter-in-law.

“It lets her understand that just because she’s where she’s at, her life isn’t over.”