The Plunge

As we begin what truly are the winter months, I am tempted to resort to my favorite activity during these drab days. Hibernating. Who doesn’t love getting all cozy and warm under the covers?

I like to blame it all on SAD. You know, seasonal affective disorder. But really, I think I’m just cold. 

But this year, I’ve decided that I need to change my ways. I need to participate in things, do stuff.

No, it’s not a resolution. It’s more of a movement.  

There are so many winter outdoor activities to choose from. I could ice skate. Not very good at that. I could take up skiing. OK, I’ve done that twice and wasn’t very good at that either. Ooh, I could try mushing. I already have two dogs. I could just strap them to a toboggan and hit the frosty wonderland. I think they could drag me around for a minute or so. It might be a short-lived thrill, but a thrill all the same.

One thing I won’t be doing again, at least this winter, is diving in the river. Yes, I have been in the river this winter. I joined my co-workers Randy Baumann, Michele Michaels and Sean McDowell in diving into the river as part of the Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics of Pennsylvania. It was a spectacular event for many reasons. Over 1,300 people joined forces to raise nearly $300,000 for Special Olympics. The DVE team had over forty brave plungers. Thanks to all of them.

There were plungers from all over Western Pennsylvania. My sister-in-law coordinates the Venango/Forest County Special Olympics. She came to the Polar Plunge with my brother, niece and a whole group of people dressed as the cast of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. It was awesome! Several teams of plungers came in costume or themed outfits. A ton of law enforcement groups from around the area went in as well. And one group did a super plunge: they jumped in the river every hour for 24 hours. Crazy!  

I know it may sound insane, but it really wasn’t as bad as you might think. If I remember correctly, the air was 32 degrees and the water was 43 degrees. But once you were standing outside in the cold air in your shorts and t-shirt, or less, the water really didn’t seem that cold. And by less I mean bikinis, and guys in thongs or Underoos. And you’re so pumped up by everyone else plunging and all the people who come to watch that the water isn’t really that bad. If you’ve never done it before, it’s kind of the “fear of the unknown” that’s worse than anything else.

This year Special Olympics went leaps and bounds beyond what they did last year. And I’m sure next year will go leaps and bounds beyond this year. The people from Special Olympics and law enforcement groups in the area put a lot of work into this event. A huge pat on the back goes out to them. And it was an honor to be in the company of some of the Special Olympics athletes who were there to cheer on all the plungers.  

We’re doing it up big next year and I will be recruiting, so be ready!