Turning 90 isn’t something that everyone gets to do. 

So for one woman, when she made it to nine decades on planet Earth, she knew she had one thing and one thing only that she wanted to do in celebration.

And her idea came from a former president who also made it to celebrate his 90th birthday. She planned to go skydiving. You know, a normal birthday experience.

Marg Burg told reporters, “Well, I saw (former President George H.W. Bush) do it when he was 90. And I thought, ‘Well, if he can do it, I can,’” she said. 

When she knew she’d reach the milestone birthday, she had to do something spectacular.

I never thought I’d ever reach 90, you know?” she said. “But here I am. I’m gonna do it!

Burg grins as she gets ready for her first ever skydive. Photo courtesy of Skydive Buckeye

So the Arizona resident, and her family, contacted nearby Skydive Buckeye. The center’s website says that it is the only place in Arizona with a 100 percent safety record.

In preparation for her 14,000-foot jump, the skydiving center assigned Burg an experienced instructor, Collin Lyons. Burg and Lyons did a tandem jump, which put Burg in a harness connected to Lyons.

Her family was on the sidelines for Burg’s big jump.

“I’m excited for her. Yeah. Very excited,” said Marg’s daughter Brenda Omahan. “She makes every day count. And we all love Mom very much. And I wish all my siblings could be here, but I’m representing mom.”

The video of Burg jumping out of the plane went viral, as the 90-year-old couldn’t stop smiling during the jump.

Afterward, she couldn’t contain her joy. 

“It was wonderful, just wonderful,” she said, “like I was a bird. It was exciting to see everything from up there, just wonderful.”

Burg holds on as the parachute is released. Photo courtesy of Skydive Buckeye

Her caretaker, Anne Hamner, said that everyone had been shocked that the normally-quiet Burg would do something like this. 

“Marg is usually the person that is playing the piano,” Hamner said.

So, this is a real surprise that she was willing to do something so adventurous.”

Burg’s instructor was thrilled to be involved in her big day.

“It’s just so great to share that with someone, because they haven’t experienced that at all, their whole life,” he said.

Burg grins as she enjoys her first ever skydive. Photo courtesy of Skydive Buckeye

For Burg, the chance to do something new, that she never thought she could do, was everything she imagined. 

“It was just that feeling of freedom,” Burg said. “Seeing the Earth from a different viewpoint. I know it isn’t that high, but probably I’ll never get to a spaceship.” 

To watch her amazing jump back to earth, watch below!

President George H.W. Bush’s 90th birthday jump:

Sources: My Modern Met | West Valley View