HLN morning host Robin Meade tandem jumped today just moments before former Pres. George H. W. Bush, who was celebrating his 85th birthday.

Meade, in an interview soon after landing, said she was so busy thinking about her interview with Bush and logistics about getting on air, she didn’t have time to be truly terrified.

“I was more worried about doing my job,” she said, “so I didn’t think, ‘What if the parachute doesn’t work?’ ”

Joining the Army’s Golden Knights, she and Bush jumped from 13,500 feet, freefalling with tandem partners for 8,000 feet before hitting the parachute and going for a soft landing.

Bush has skydived several times (including involuntarily during World War II). Meade? A skydiving virgin.

The Golden Knights had invited her before to do a skydive but she had demurred. She told them to come up with a way for her not to say no. When they said Bush was joining her, they called her bluff. She had to say yes.

“In real life,” she noted, “I’m not a thrill seeker. I don’t ride roller coasters. I don’t bungee jump. I don’t even see scary movies. Hate’em!”

Here is some of her interview with Bush that morning in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Here’s an excerpt from the interview to read:

MEADE: What’s with your penchant for jumping still?

BUSH: Well, two reasons. One, it still feels good. You still get a
charge out of it. Not easy to do at 85, but…

MEADE: I don’t think it’s easy to do at any age.

BUSH: And secondly, just because you’re old, that doesn’t mean you
can’t do fun stuff. And you don’t want to sit around drooling in the
corner. And so it’s a wonderful release.