Polar Plunge

I have done some crazy things in my life.  Last year I jumped from an airplane just for fun.  But, jumping into a freezing cold lake tops them all; because, I have a major fear of water.  Yep, I can jump from 10,000 feet without thinking twice, but swimming in a lake scares me to death.  And, lets not even talk about water slides.  So, when I agreed to the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Minnesota, I knew this was more than just doing something a little crazy for a good cause.  This was one of those conquer your fear type moments.

On the morning of the plunge, I woke up to temperatures around 20 degrees and a nice wind blowing.  To add insult to injury, there were flakes of snow spiraling downward in the wind.  Even my kids asked if we could stay home.  And all they needed to do was stand on the side of the lake and watch me!  But like Horton the Elephant...I meant what I said and I said what I meant...so, I had to jump.

Everyone asks me what was it like to jump.  My answer is, it is cold...really cold, stop your breath cold, make your mind go blank cold, tiny needles of pain all over your body cold.  But it is over in like 30 seconds so no big deal. But, then you get out of the lake.  That is when the wind hits your soaking wet body and starts to freeze your clothes.  That is the moment that you don't hear or see anyone or anything, but you run for the hot tub before you freeze, literally.  Then you get into the hot tub and the feeling returns to your limbs and you realize that you did something pretty cool...stupid, but cool.

In this one stupid, yet cool event, many of you helped me fund two Special Olympics athletes for a year.  This money helps athletes like my neighbor Steven participate in sports and learn the important life lessons sports have to teach all of us.  For something like that, I can face my fear of water and get a little cold.  Ok, a lot cold.  I can't wait to do it again next year!

Camera settings had been played with so this is the best I could get with the over exposed pictures.  This is my neighbor Mike Olsen and I jumping.