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(Photo above left) Celia Diaz has always been afraid of heights, not because of the possibility of falling, but rather a fear of jumping. On July 3rd Diaz did just that, flew like a bird, or at least a close to it, when she celebrated her 80th birthday by stepping off a high location and paragliding in Santa Barbara. (Above right) Celia Diaz gives a big thumbs up after completing her flight in Santa Barbara. Celia was celebrating her 80th birthday as family and friends watched her soar. |
Celia Diaz: Lifelong dream of flight fulfilled for 80th birthday
July 15, 2011
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Celia Diaz has always been afraid of heights, not because of the possibility of falling, but rather a fear of jumping. Said Diaz, “I’ve always wanted to fly like a bird so I’ve always been afraid of heights” and her strong temptation to step off the ledge and soar.
But on July 3rd Diaz did just that, flew like a bird, or at least a close to it, when she celebrated her 80th birthday by stepping off a high location and paragliding in Santa Barbara. “She wanted to fly like a bird,” said her daughter Sandi Tovias, who with her brother Dan Diaz is the third generation to operate the family owned Familia Diaz, which this year celebrated its 75th anniversary.
All the family was on hand when Celia Diaz took off, as was KEYT-TV based in Santa Barbara, which filmed her flight for their news broadcast. “She had a really nice interview, we got some great pictures and Mom was really excited... there was about 30 of us, all of us were there,” said Tovias, including her sibling Mike.
Missing were three grandchildren that Tovias said had gone to summer camp. On hand was Tony Diaz, Celia’s husband of more than six decades.
“Oh, Dad was so funny... he was talking to Mike and told him he was really nervous because he had lost control of the situation. After 62 years of marriage Dad felt helpless and while they were strapping Mom up he kept saying ‘Be careful! Watch your hands, watch your hands!’ But he was fine with it,” although Tovias said it was not something he would want his wife to do.
“But Mom is really spunky... she said go for it, she has a new spirit.” And Tovias has a new understanding of parent dynamics: “You get to a certain age, you think of them as your mom and dad” and not so much about their relationship as husband and wife.
“I had so much fun flying like a bird!” said Celia Diaz. “I wanted to do that all my life, I have flown all my life in my dreams. And I thought why not on my birthday? Why not experience it? There is so much to experience!”
And so she did, astounding her professional flight instructor and team when they took their first flight, and then, “Not even five minutes later when we went back up on the hill they asked if I wanted to do it again. I said why not go for it? I could see the instructor thinking ‘This is some crazy 80-year-old woman’ and at first I knew they were worried about my abilities, but they had strapped me in for my first flight... and then we took off again. They must have liked me!”
Celia conceded her husband “was the one that was nervous... I wasn’t, I was anxious to get up there and fly! All the years the kids knew I was afraid of heights. But I was afraid of looking down and wanting to jump and fly!”
And just what does Celia Diaz have planned for 81st birthday? “I haven’t thought about that, but actually for my 80th I had wanted to skydive but my doctor said no way. But flying was wonderful, very fulfilling... and my dreams came true.”
