The Greatest Horrible Idea!

Sometimes bad ideas seem like such good ideas at the time. Then there are the ideas you know are bad and you don't even want to think them, but someone reminds you later it might make a good memory. I was recently faced with just that situation.

BAD IDEA:

•  Lets completely submerge ourselves in a lake on a snowy winter day.

REASONS IT WAS CONSIDERED:

• It was disguised as a birthday party for my dear friend Sara. 
• It was a way to raise money for a children's program at the YMCA.
• I am an adrenaline junky. 
• I have yet to learn how to say no.

the crazy birthday girl

So obviously…I did it. Now let me tell you about it! The week leading up to the plunge was warm for a Pennsylvania winter, but the day before we were hit with a crazy storm. The drive to the lake on the morning of the plunge was like driving through a winter wonder land.

brrrr, brrrr, brrrr!

Our group name was the Royals and so of course we wore tutus, tiaras, and crowns and held wands and swords. I mean if you're doing something this crazy you gotta go all out!

pre-plunge already shaking from the cold

Until just moments before the plunge I kept putting my winter coat back on between pictures. As I was standing in a crowd of people some girl who was fully dressed and just watching the event looked at me kind of scoffing and said, "You're the only one with a coat on." I refrained from explaining to her that I was probably the only one in a semi-right mind because it was FREEZING out! Or that I grew up in Africa and DESPISE the cold. Or that she had clothes on and shouldn't be talking. Or any of the thoughts that came to mind and instead just smiled and said, "yeah, it's cold".  There was also another guy who went before our group and then stood right by me and explained in great detail how painful it was…I plugged my ears.

Sara and I

Before we went in we, along with the whole crowd, sand Happy Birthday to Sara! 

singing our hearts out

Then we charged the water... 

Shock and horror! 

Shock and horror part two! Instant brain freeze! Struggling to walk.

Still in shock! Still can't figure out why it is so hard to walk.

Shock continues. I'm about to look down and realize my tutu is around my knees and that is why taking steps is so challenging. I couldn't feel it. 

DRY AND ALIVE! WE SURVIVED!

Yay for the Polar Bear Plunge!

This is definitely up there in the greatest horrible ideas of all time. I really hope I never do it again, but I highly recommend everyone does it at least once in their lifetime. It just another thing to check of the list of crazy things to do!