Actress Shirley Jones said she will take her first skydive on Monday, her 80th birthday.
“That’s something I wanted to do all my life,” Jones said Friday.
The idea to skydive was inspired by former President George H.W. Bush’s jumps on a number of his birthdays, including when he turned 85 in 2009, Jones said.
“When I saw him do it I thought, ‘Wow, if he can do this, I can,’” Jones said.
The Oscar-winning actress won the award for her role in the 1960 drama, Elmer Gantry. She is also known for her role in TV’s The Partridge Family in the 1970s, which lasted four years. She rose to fame when she starred in the 1950s film versions of the Broadway musicals Carousel and Oklahoma. She also starred in the 1962 film version of The Music Man.
Jones’ family was planning a big celebration for Sunday, the day before her birthday. She said she was looking forward to the party and spending time with her family, which includes 12 grandchildren, and a childhood friend she has known since they were in the third grade together in a small town in Pennsylvania.
Jones was not, however, looking forward to the reason for the celebration.
“I’m not very happy about” turning 80, she said.
“The number scares me to death. I don’t even like to say it. Eighty years old, it can’t be,” Jones said.
Jones chose skydiving from the top of her to-do list, which also includes going on an African safari.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
