“Are you ready, Rob?”
asked my good friend and co-worker, David Westbrook. “I have the strong feeling
that ten minutes from now, we are either going to think this was our best idea
or possibly the worst.”
The growing crowd has become to cheer and chant as I look
around the beachfront on Tybee. It is New Year’s Day which means it’s time for
the annual Tybee Polar Plunge. There are
a few hundred of us who have decided to take the plunge. The pier is stemming
with onlooker and news crews. I know I should be nervous about the 48 degree
water awaiting me but my adrenalin has kicked in. To quote my favorite R.E.M.
song, “I am feeling kinda psyched.”
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| and the crowd looked on... |
Dave and I got the bright idea to do this bout 10 pm last
night. I had always heard about the Tybee Polar Plunge but never really
considered doing it. One wild hair later and the two of us were paying our
registration fee at the Tybee Pier and receiving our complimentary t-shirt. I
almost backed out this morning but now I’m really glad I didn’t.
Standing in the staging area, Dave summed the whole
morning up.
“This
is why I love living here in Savannah so much.” He said. Dave had it right. As
usual this type of event brought out all types of folks. Crazed partiers, People
with a cause, families, and folks that just love to have a good time like us. I saw everyone from a male Wonder Woman to a
flock of “Ty-bees”. (Get it? They were adorable) It was my first time but
fortunately I had the foresight to grab my Royal Order of the Pooh-Bah hat for
my first plunge. Good thing I did because it’s made it much easier to find Dave
and I in the all the pics and video. Large furry blue hats tend to stick out, I
hear.
 |
| Before |
The
crowd is what caught my attention. I am little ashamed of myself in being surprised.
Coastal Empire People love to make the scene. Local people are the best and so much fun to
talk to. It constantly amazes me how Savannah/Tybee folks can act like there
are big city yet be just as down home as the people I grew up with in the
mountains. Fun crowd.
I
also don’t know why I was so surprised when I discovered two of my students
found me. It always amuses me to watch a student’s eyes when they find me in
the civilian world especially with Pooh-bah hat in tow. Come Thursday, I know I’ll be catching some
shit in my 2nd period Brit Lit class but I am fine with that. It’s
good for kids to see us teacher as human.
Dave’s
plan was to run into the surf and dive. I must admit it was a good plan and one
I’d choose but unfortunately I don’t run very well due to my ankles from the
kidney disease. The smart choice was walking into the ocean for me. I am glad I
choose this one because a) it was safer and b) it made me reflect a few moments
as those last two minutes began to count down before the Plunge.
On the Robby R timeline, 2012 will be a
standout. The big event was my
outstanding nuptials to the lovely Kim Wade while Jude and Roni presided as
Maid of Honor and Best Man. I met Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and Stan Lee. I
drank wine in Paris, Morocco, and a beer in Germany (OK, it was Epcot but it
still counts for something). I honeymooned in the fanciest hotel I had ever
visited.
 |
| "Ahhhh, Venice. I mean Epcot." |
I
became a parent. For real. And ever since then, I hear the ghosts of my Dad and
Pop as I navigate these new uncharted waters.
Two
decisions came to mind and became resolutions. The first is my health. I have
been steadily improving over the past few years. It’s now time to get serious
about a kidney transplant. Therefore, I have nicknamed 2013 as the Year of the
Kidney. If I get serious about all the prep work and start laying it all out, I
could probably have a new kidney in a couple of years. It scares me and thrills
me all at the same time. I had been debating this for a while but as I looked
out along the coast line. I knew it was time.
Second,
I am going to keep writing this blog. There has been a bit of hiatus. My laptop
was broken and it took a bit to get it fixed. During that time some stuff came
up where my blog was used a tool
to drive a wedge between the kids and myself. It didn’t work but it made me
leery to post anything of a personal nature here for fear of it being used against
me. It also reminded me that so long as I am honest in what I say and write
then slings and arrows just bounce right off.
I
am going to keep writing but I may avoid some topics for a bit at least until
Kim and I get this all sorted out legally. So if you keep reading my posts and
see a lack family stuff, I am avoiding adding fuel to the fire for a bit but I
assure you, we are doing great. Roni is glued to her new Nook and Jude is
picking some chords I have taught him on the guitar.
I
am also going to focus more on the getting the Tide off the ground. Seeing all
the characters at the Polar Plunge had me realizing how much I honestly want to
start writing about the goings on and uniqueness of living here in Savannah. C’mon,
how many places would actually have a guy in an old timey bathing suit show up
like this?
The
crowd began chanting and roaring which snapped me out of my dazed moment of reflection.
The PA system belted out a count down from ten. Dave and I looked at each other
and began grinning. The moment of truth was here.
As
the speakers belted out,”One! Go for it, swimmers!” About a few hundred crazed
swimmers stormed out to the surf. I would later describe the scene like the
massive battle scenes from Braveheart.
The swimmers charged with full force and then came to a standstill about waist
high as the surf would break on them. This
separated the men from the boys. Most people stopped and began splashing but
some kept going until they were fully submerged. I watched Dave make it with
the bravest crowd, go under, and come up laughing.
It
was cold. No denying this. I am also proud to say I made it out to where all
the hardcore swimmers and Dave were at. Of course during this process, the term
shrinkage does not cover what happened to my body. I feel backwards and went
under. I came up and realized I was ready for the New Year.
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| After... |
The
Polar Plunge may not be for everyone but I do recommend going out just for the
pageantry and the fun. It was a great
time and an even better way to get me ready for 2013. Dave and I kept laughing the
whole way back and are already making plans for next year.
http://www2.wsav.com/news/2013/jan/02/8/web-extra-tybee-beach-polar-plunge-ar-5277788/
