For quite some time I have been living in a hole of cold, dark panic. It could be attributed to a variety things, things such as my youngest child being diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, my marriage going down the tubes, my father going out for a bike ride and dying while crossing the street. Or there is also the possibility that I am just a neurotic freak, content to rock quietly in a corner while humming show tunes. The truth likely rests mostly on the latter statement with some of the former points sprinkled in for interest. But the thing with being neurotic and prone to hiding indoors away from others is that after a spell, say 17 years or so, it grows dull and there comes a time for change. For me this change has been in a slow evolution over the last year or so, and with the onset of my fortieth birthday at the end of the summer I am stepping outside of my panic box to brush shoulders with the world. And? It’s kinda fun in a wow-this-is-super-scary-and-I-want-to-wear-gloves-and-a-helmet sort of way.
So what have I done lately? Well. I’ve submerged myself in cold mountain lake water and then attempted to hurl through it while tied to a rope. Scary stuff for somebody whose idea of water sports is the shallow end of my mother’s hot tub. The effort was completely unplanned, spontaneous in a way I simply am not.
Luckily my mother was there, yes at the age of 39 I spend a lot of time with my mother, to record it on camera. No, there are not actually pictures of me on the water, those moments were fleeting but they actually did happen. Starting at the top and traveling clockwise: The mistress of the boat, Jennifer, and my mother as we cruise to the middle of the lake. Jen’s son and Cassidy’s best friend, Taylor, as he readies to go out on the water. Cass and Devon watching Taylor, I love Cass’ profile and the fact that Devon looks like an albino monkey. Yes, that backdoor shot of my legs is courtesy of my mother. Why put it in? Because it is a testament to the fact that pale people should stay indoors in their corners and learn more showtunes, plus I love the way Jen is modeling the technique I should use to prop myself up on the knee board. Then there is Richard’s lower half as he effortlessly surfs behind the boat, He is the Master of the vessel and mate to Jen. And finally Jen is modeling, again, how I should grasp the rope as I let myself out to surf. Good thing I know how to swim.
But my most favorite shot of all is this one, Cass and me after I have been hurled off the back side of the boat and she reassures me that I am not a bumbling idiot, just an uncoordinated one.Good times.
