Ok, I'm no Felix Baumgartner, you know ... the guy that jumped from a balloon capsule over 125,000 feet up. We were watching (along with the appropriate oohs and aahs) the Red Bull stunt live the other day, when my friend casually strolls behind me and nonchalantly says, “With all the safeties built into that thing, you going kayaking is probably more dangerous.”
I had to laugh, as the memory of my
ill-fated adventure came back, and acknowledge that he may be right.
Funny how our brain will block out life's embarrassing moments, heck
I'd forgotten (or at least kept quiet about) this incident until the
video camera was unloaded months later.
It was last spring, we were all tired
of the winter doldrums and thoughts of summertime fun were
infiltrating the old puzzler. As if on cue an email shows up that
grabbed my attention ... Disabled Kayaking.
My wife and I had discussed this topic
before, and watched Youtube videos on the subject, and I had her
convinced that it was safe enough (I mean, how dangerous could it
be?).
In replying to the email I asked all
the important questions:
“Are you set up for this? Have you handled people with disabilities before?”
“Yep” came the answer,
investigation over.
“Sign me up”
Many things in life are dangerous, but
the grey matter between our ears is there to help keep us safe and
mitigate risk (unless it's gettin' a little too moldy). With careful
planning even sky-diving from 25 miles up like Felix can be safe,
likewise ignoring clues can make even seemingly mundane activities
like kayaking turn into life-threatening ordeals.
We arrive at the kayaking pond, and
promptly get to business ignoring said clues:
1 Q. “Isn't the kayak a little
small?” I ask.
A. “Oh no, it's fine”
2 Q. “Where's the seat?”
A. “I'm going to install it, it just
came.”
3 Q. “Any outriggers?”
A. “Nope, haven't arrived in the
mail yet.”
4 Q. “This thing stable?”
A. “Sure.”
5 Q. “You done this before, right?”
A. (see answer #4)
After we've completed the difficult
4.5-person-back-breaking-lift to install gimp-paddler (about as easy
as transferring a wet octopus), I'm asked “Ya wanna be tied in?”
Ok, even my keen (tongue-in-cheek)
spidey-sense rang of potential disaster here, he might as well have
asked “Do you want me to remove all possibility of survival in the
event of a roll-over?”
“No thanks,” I reply.
“Ok, here goes,” as the expert
starts to shove the kayak, and me, out into the lake.
About this time I notice a minor
insignificant detail, I have NO LIFEJACKET ON!
I try to let the pros know.
“Uh, 'scuse me” No response,
instructor keeps shoving.
“'Excuse me”. No comprendo.
“TERRY!” I get my wife's attention (our resident photographer who is currently pre-occupied assembling her tools-of-the-trade),
“I DON'T HAVE A LIFE-JACKET!” She immediately stops them,
thwarting certain disaster. Embarrassed looks are exchanged, the
problem is quickly rectified.
The signs were there ... Murphy gave
fair warning ... here's the result ...
Well since no one was seriously hurt during the filming of this short abiet, hysterical video, I applaud the brave heart who constantly pushes all barriers! Next: scuba lessons!
ReplyDeleteSue
Uh, didn't you try this once before with the same results? Even people from Oklahoma figure out that if you roll over once...or twice...or thrice (now there's a nice word) you ain't doin' it right! Glad you only got wet and didn't become fish food. Better stick to flyin' But proud of you!
ReplyDeleteNorm