Splash!

Carson is very comfortable in the water. By comfortable I don't mean that he can swim or anything. I am referring to his state of mind. Apparently, the water makes him relaxed. He has pooped in the bath tub three times in one week and he usually poops right after swimming as well.

Usually I only share the cute things that Carson has done or accomplished and choose to leave out experiences like crying all night long while camping at a family reunion making us pack and come home early. But with the theme of keeping it real comes "real life".

I too have my own "water experience" where I gained the nickname splash. It was early spring, the air was crisp, snow capped the mountains, and the sun was shining bright. I was 14 years old and going away for the weekend with my friend Chelsie and her family to their cabin in Arnold, CA.

Soon after arriving my friend Chelsie, her brother Korbe and I decided to take a leisurely drive to a nearby lake. The placid lake was beautiful and half frozen. I thought it would be fun to test my "ice skating skills", but without the appropriate gear, it became just a walk on the ice. In the meantime, Chelsie and Korbe began tossing a heavy stick to each other across the ice. With each toss, Chelsie would back up, venturing closer towards the thawing ice. In the distance, I saw a tennis ball, and, being naive, I decided to retrieve the tennis ball, and liven the game a little. Not realizing that not all of the lake was frozen, I made my way into the middle.


I started cautiously walking towards the tennis ball. With each step, I became nervous because of slushy sounds that I was hearing, but I was getting so close to the ball and I did not want to give up now. Nevertheless, I heard the ice crack beneath my feet. It was too late!!

Before I could turn around, I fell into the freezing cold water. Despite my best efforts to pull myself out of the ice, I could not. Each time I would try to raise myself, the ice would break. Chelsie and Korbe wanted to help, but I yelled, "Stop! If you come closer, you'll fall too!"

A nearby onlooker offered to call the fire department. Did I need the fire department? What should I do? I couldn't think straight. All I knew was that I was soaking my brand new camera, I had lost my favorite shoe, and I needed to get out this hole. Only seconds past, and I started to lose feeling in my legs. I finally managed to roll sideways on top of the ice. I was freezing, but out of harms way.

Walking was not an option. Without asking, Korbe hoisted me into his arms and carried me to the car. With heater blasting, we speedily drove to the cabin. Back at the cabin I knew I was in good hands, Chelsie's mother is a nurse and she knew just what to do. After a warm bath to thaw me out, I was grateful to be alive.

The trip I took to my friends cabin will stay in my mind forever, it was the day I learned an important lesson the hard way; life is only as easy as a walk on thin ice.