One.

That’s how many shots everyone gets at this earthly life, and Gerald Hennessee intends to pack every single ounce of adventure into his.

The affable 82-year-old, who resides with his wife of 59 years, Bea, at The Capstone at Station Camp Senior Living complex in Gallatin, is always on the hunt for the next exciting escapade.

“You’ve got to get out and move,” declares the straight-shooting Gerald, a retired Tennessee Valley Authority employee. “God gave you working arms and legs, so use ‘em!”

With the help of a California-based charity, MyJump, who’s dedicated to helping seniors fulfill their adventuresome wishes, Gerald was recently able to turn one of his dreams into reality.

On June 7 at John C. Tune Airport in Nashville, he climbed aboard a Cessna 172N Skyhawk two-seater plane and joined pilot Nick Retterer for a scenic flight above the area. MyJump even gave an apt name to the day’s activity, “Hennessee Over Tennessee!” and filmed the event for viewing on the “Jumpisodes” section of its website, myjump.org.

“It was great!” exclaimed Gerald, but he did admit to a temptation while in the air:

“I wanted to grab that wheel and take over the controls!”

Bea made the trip as well, though only as an interested spectator from ground level. She says she was thrilled to see Gerald take to the air.

“He looked good sitting in that plane,” she recounts. “I knew he’d be okay. He was so excited.”

In all candor, Gerald originally wanted to not only go up in a plane, but skydive out of it as well. He had skydived several years ago and loved it. However, he wasn’t cleared for that portion of the proceedings.

“Everybody’s trying to stop me from having fun,” he chuckles.

Gerald’s fascination with flight began at an early age. His childhood years were spent in the Northeast Tennessee town of Sunbright at the tail end of World War II. He marveled at one plane in particular used during the war — the B-29 Superfortress bomber.

“The B-29 was instrumental in ending the Second World War,” says Gerald, who would later serve four years in the U.S. Army during non-wartime. “It dropped the atomic bomb. Needless to say, at that age, I was in awe. It was a four-engine giant.”

The zest for adventure has resulted in many fun memories for Gerald through the years. As a Boy Scout leader, he led camping and backpacking trips to such locations as Mexico, Minnesota, and Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He’s traversed the Hiwassee River on a whitewater raft. He’s been on several hiking and canoeing treks.

“If you haven’t turned the canoe over at least once, you’re not doing it right,” he laughs.

What’s next for Gerald? He ponders as he and Bea sit in the café at Capstone, giving a warning signal to her before he responds:

“Honey, you better turn your head or close your ears. My unreached goal is to hike on the Appalachian Trail.”

For this self-professed “stubborn” soul, who’s to doubt him?