Sight Line

 

What is this thing?

I accidentally knocked over a cup full of pens on the stand next to my desk a couple days ago.

Out from the bottom popped this thing.

Right about this time of year twelve years ago, I bought this for a dollar.

Honestly, I borrowed the dollar from my friend Elijah and I don’t think I ever paid him back.

(I’ll bring the dollar next Monday, bro)

In anticipation of me and my wife’s wedding, my best man suggested we go white water rafting for a bachelor party.

I thought it was a great idea.

(More on that later.)

When we got to the rafting company, they gave us the option of a beginner or intermediate course.

We wanted to have fun so, of course we went for the intermediate.

They also suggested that, if we wanted to wear glasses in the raft, it might be a good idea to buy one of these cords to keep our glasses attached.

Since I wanted to actually see, I got one.

After a few waves and splashes, I couldn’t see much through the water drops on my glasses, so they didn’t make much difference.

About three fourths of the way through the trip, our guide reminded us to put our all into each stroke as we were approaching a tough section.

He also told us that, if there was one section we did not want to fall out in, it was this it.

I anchored my foot deeper in the side wall and concentrated on each stroke.

That was hard work.

With a big drop ahead, the guide yelled “stroke!”

I leaned forward and dug deep into the roaring creek.

As I reached forward, the raft hit a rock and buckled.

My friend Jim and I flew forward into the water.

The next thing I saw was the raft passing over me.

Yes – OVER me.

Once it passed, I frantically swam toward it as I saw them pull Jim back in.

In seconds, it was out of reach.

At this point, let me remind you that this was May in the Rocky Mountains. That water came straight from melting snow.

Despite my wet suit, the frigid water penetrated to my core.

I got my feet pointed downstream like they told us but that didn’t keep me from becoming a human pinball, bouncing from rock to rock.

Before too long, I reached a shallower, calmer section.

I got my feet on the bottom and stopped while another raft approached me.

Two men pulled me in.

I had no strength to help.

My arms and legs could barely move.

By the time we got to the end, I was able to walk, but once we got to the locker room, the site of the quickly forming bruises on my back and legs helped explain my soreness.

Mind you, this was one week before our wedding.

In that time, those bruises, including the bowling ball sized one on my back, turned black.

So, was white water rafting a wise decision?

Well, if I had to make the choice again, I’d go for the beginner course.

And I wouldn’t do it a week before my wedding.

But I had a blast.

And I have another story to tell.

In case you’re wondering, that little cord for my glasses did its job even underwater while bouncing from rock to rock.

I haven’t needed it since, but I held onto to it to remind me of my one smart decision that day (besides going to Beau Jo’s for lunch afterward).