So not a whole lot to say about today. I'm actually very happy about that. *big grin*
School went very well. Jason accomplished everything on his list. The boys had a good day. My father-in-law did fine with his radiation treatment. Oh...and my bruise is getting better!
Just seems like a GOOD DAY.
Thank you, Lord, for bringing quiet and very "normal" days. They nurture my soul.
Blessings,
~ Marcia ~
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Marcia vs. the River
I don't know what made me think I could do this! Not really sure what possessed Jason and I to say "yes" in the first place. Am I crazy? What's worse is that I was actually excited about this...and deathly afraid! It was not really real until I saw it all before me...
the river
and the canoe.
I began giving myself sort of a pep talk. Besides, there was no backing out now. What was done was done. There was no way out of this except for going forward. The bus had pulled away and with it, it took all my plans of sneaking out of this somehow.
Here was my plan...
not to get wet!
After all, it was just a little float trip down the Meramec River.
As I now know, this was not a good "plan" at all.
We weren't really prepared either. Jason did not have water shoes, but I had fortunately borrowed a pair. (Best thing I ever did, too!) We had overpacked as far as food and drinks were concerned. I had no idea that I would be concentrating so hard on canoeing that eating would not be a concern. We did remember sunscreen and that was a good thing! Neither of us came home badly burned.
But I was not without some battle scars.
And I did not follow my own plan.
Back to the trip...so we picked our sad looking aluminum canoe and I climbed in front and Jason climbed in back and we were on our way. That is until we hit the shallow water...about 15 feet from where we started. CLUNK! My behind was resting snuggly on a rock! WHAT??? No one mentioned getting stuck in shallow water??? Man, this may not be much fun. So we got moving again with a push from behind and soon we were really working this river. What a team! Paddle, paddle, glide! Paddle, paddle, glide! We were AWESOME! Down that river we were going. There was no stopping us now. I am one with my canoe. Just call me Sacajawea.
And then it happened.
We attempted to turn.
And we hit a branch.
And then we tipped over!
But we had come so far! Ok, truth be told, we were not even 50 feet from where we had put in. I was suddenly wet and cold, and completely and totally embarrassed! How could this have happened? Oh yeah, and somehow during the struggle to grab or stuff and not lose my oar, I slipped on some rocks and royally bruised my arm! OUCH! Now, I was truly laughing through my tears at this point. And so was the rest of our group! We were floating with 4 other couples and truly, if the embarrassment had to be in front of someone, these guys were it! I cringe now as I try to imagine what we looked like!!! Wow!
After getting back in again, we were off. Truthfully, I had suddenly become very concerned about how we were going to remain upright for the rest of the float. Flipping a canoe every 50 feet or so will not allow us to complete our float very efficiently. By the time Jason and I reach the pick up point, it will be dark and I am sure everyone will have gone home! Man, oh, man! Why did I agree to do this?
Silently, I was praying. Praying for strength, praying for grace, and praying for a good, low center of gravity.
And my Lord came through!
Isn't He amazing?
He heard my cries!
No, we did not miraculously open our eyes at the end, and, no, we did not avoid another flipped canoe incident. In fact, "we" flipped "our" canoe a total of 4 times that day. I emphasize "we" and "our" because I did not mention the time "I" flipped "our" canoe all by myself with only me in it. Jason thought that one was a beauty. My friend, Vickie, said I was so graceful.
But between flips, the river was absolutely gorgeous! Parts of the float were breathtaking. The water was so clear, the fish swam so fast, the sun felt so warm. It made all the flips worthwhile.
And, of course, it always helped to smile when another couple flipped their canoe. Four out of five of us did just that and so our mood was light and the jokes were plenty.
"Who's dumb idea was this going canoeing to get closer as couples???"
"Can a divorced couple continue to teach the married couple's class???"
"Marcia, you're looking kind of dry...time to flip again!!!"
What a day. When we finally rounded the bend and saw the pick up, their was much rejoicing!
We had done it!
I had done it?
I canoed 9 miles with my husband and I lived to blog about it!
I'm beginning to think that if I can do this, then God and I could accomplish almost anything...
Blessings,
~ Marcia ~
the river
and the canoe.
I began giving myself sort of a pep talk. Besides, there was no backing out now. What was done was done. There was no way out of this except for going forward. The bus had pulled away and with it, it took all my plans of sneaking out of this somehow.
Here was my plan...
not to get wet!
After all, it was just a little float trip down the Meramec River.
As I now know, this was not a good "plan" at all.
We weren't really prepared either. Jason did not have water shoes, but I had fortunately borrowed a pair. (Best thing I ever did, too!) We had overpacked as far as food and drinks were concerned. I had no idea that I would be concentrating so hard on canoeing that eating would not be a concern. We did remember sunscreen and that was a good thing! Neither of us came home badly burned.
But I was not without some battle scars.
And I did not follow my own plan.
Back to the trip...so we picked our sad looking aluminum canoe and I climbed in front and Jason climbed in back and we were on our way. That is until we hit the shallow water...about 15 feet from where we started. CLUNK! My behind was resting snuggly on a rock! WHAT??? No one mentioned getting stuck in shallow water??? Man, this may not be much fun. So we got moving again with a push from behind and soon we were really working this river. What a team! Paddle, paddle, glide! Paddle, paddle, glide! We were AWESOME! Down that river we were going. There was no stopping us now. I am one with my canoe. Just call me Sacajawea.
And then it happened.
We attempted to turn.
And we hit a branch.
And then we tipped over!
But we had come so far! Ok, truth be told, we were not even 50 feet from where we had put in. I was suddenly wet and cold, and completely and totally embarrassed! How could this have happened? Oh yeah, and somehow during the struggle to grab or stuff and not lose my oar, I slipped on some rocks and royally bruised my arm! OUCH! Now, I was truly laughing through my tears at this point. And so was the rest of our group! We were floating with 4 other couples and truly, if the embarrassment had to be in front of someone, these guys were it! I cringe now as I try to imagine what we looked like!!! Wow!
After getting back in again, we were off. Truthfully, I had suddenly become very concerned about how we were going to remain upright for the rest of the float. Flipping a canoe every 50 feet or so will not allow us to complete our float very efficiently. By the time Jason and I reach the pick up point, it will be dark and I am sure everyone will have gone home! Man, oh, man! Why did I agree to do this?
Silently, I was praying. Praying for strength, praying for grace, and praying for a good, low center of gravity.
And my Lord came through!
Isn't He amazing?
He heard my cries!
No, we did not miraculously open our eyes at the end, and, no, we did not avoid another flipped canoe incident. In fact, "we" flipped "our" canoe a total of 4 times that day. I emphasize "we" and "our" because I did not mention the time "I" flipped "our" canoe all by myself with only me in it. Jason thought that one was a beauty. My friend, Vickie, said I was so graceful.
But between flips, the river was absolutely gorgeous! Parts of the float were breathtaking. The water was so clear, the fish swam so fast, the sun felt so warm. It made all the flips worthwhile.
And, of course, it always helped to smile when another couple flipped their canoe. Four out of five of us did just that and so our mood was light and the jokes were plenty.
"Who's dumb idea was this going canoeing to get closer as couples???"
"Can a divorced couple continue to teach the married couple's class???"
"Marcia, you're looking kind of dry...time to flip again!!!"
What a day. When we finally rounded the bend and saw the pick up, their was much rejoicing!
We had done it!
I had done it?
I canoed 9 miles with my husband and I lived to blog about it!
I'm beginning to think that if I can do this, then God and I could accomplish almost anything...
Blessings,
~ Marcia ~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
