Taking the plunge can refer to a marital commitment which in some cases might send a person running for the hills. In my case, taking a polar plunge had the same effect!
In case you have no idea what a polar plunge might be, here’s the gist…. a huge hole is cut in the ice in the middle of winter and people raise money for the “opportunity” to dress up in costumes and jump in the freezing cold water.
It’s really fun if you’re the one on the sidelines with the camera!
The last polar plunge I took was accidentally falling into Lake Superior when I was 13 and it was summer. I was reaching for a pretty piece of driftwood floating by when the next thing I knew I was flipped over into the lake. It was so cold I think I was out of the water when I was barely wet!
The closest I’ve come since that day is turning the cold water on in my shower. I would never purposely jump into a frozen lake in February no matter how warm the hot tub was when I got out.
My son Ben has a different view. He couldn’t wait to jump in with his friend Paulie and Paul’s dad Wayne. They dressed like “beautiful brides” (and I use the term beautiful loosely…) with high heels, bouquets and garters. They even had a flower “boy” but he wised up to the cold and ran for the car.
This wasn’t just a weekend with nothing better to do. The plunge was for a good cause. The brides raised over $350 for the Annandale All Night grad party. This is a really great party to keep kids locked in graduation night and avoid any tragic accidents.
The plunge took place in Maple Lake and it was a balmy 36 degrees. The hole they cut in the ice is huge so you have to paddle across. It’s not just a quick in and out like my Lake Superior plunge.
I have it all on video!
The brides stayed in the plunge longer than a Kardashian wedding. Once out, there is a hot tub waiting to warm people up. The boys said it felt like needles after being in the lake. It’s a proud mama moment to see your son in a wedding dress and heels for a good cause!
When visiting the North Shore, the kids like to bring their friends from Annandale. One April we told our guest that it was a custom to go down to the beach at Father Baraga’s Cross and jump in Lake Superior in your underwear. He called our bluff.
So we packed the van with beach towels and headed out. All four kids stripped down and ran for the water but as soon as they stepped barefooted on the beach rocks you could see the icy cold shoot up their legs! Grandma LaVonne wouldn’t provide a warm towel unless you jumped in the water, though. Hard nut! (She was in a snowmobile jacket with mittens.)
Grandpa Art and I got a great laugh! It was a memory I am sure they won’t soon forget. The next time you’re at the lake you might want to strip down and take the plunge; as for me, I’ll be in the hot tub! “Plunge boldly into the thick of life”
~ Johann Wolfgang
von Goethe
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