Polar Plunge 2011

Why do I jump into icy water in Wisconsin, in February, when the temperature is in single digits? People have called me crazy, but I love doing it. This is my fourth year doing the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics, Wisconsin. Let me tell you.

My son, who I love very much, and am so proud of has been diagnosed as autistic. What does that mean? It means that he is different and unique, just as everyone is. Only Andrew sees the world differently than most people. He interacts differently than most people. Autism is a spectrum disease, and just to say someone has autism really doesn't describe that person. No two autistic people are exactly alike. Andrew is very good looking. He is sweet. He has a sense of humor. He can name every town and village in Wisconsin, and he can tell you how to get there and how long it will take. He loves looking at maps. He loves going on the computer. He loves cars. Once I thought he would never be able to speak, verbally. But he's quite good at it. He has excellent math skills, and is a good reader. But it's hard for him to carry on a conversation. He gets stuck on certain phrases sometimes, some sounds really bother him, and he has mannerisms that most people would recognize as typical of people with autism. There are very many things he just can't do, and might not ever do, but he is an amazing person, and can do so many things, too. I would not trade him in for another. Not in a million years, not ever. Suffice it to say that people with cognitive disabilities are near and dear to my heart. Special Olympics is something just for people like Andrew, and that is why I support it.

One Thursday, as I was giving the message, I discussed polar plunges. Shaking hands afterward, someone challenged me to actually go ahead and do it. I have never regretted it, and this year was my fourth year. I drove there in snow. I looked at the temperature. Eight degrees Fahrenheit! But I have ways of preparing. Cold showers for a week! Exercise. I make sure that I wear basketball shorts and a tank top for the plunge. As lightly as I can dress. Good shoes are a must... but no socks. Plenty of towels for after, and dry clothes.

The plunge itself is awesome. It happens very quickly. Normally I am chicken to even wade into a cool swimming pool, but it doesn't bother me for some reason to do the plunge. Going into the water is a rush of adrenaline. It is a bit disorienting, especially when I do my belly flop... that has now become my standard way of going about it. I force myself to stay in the water for an extra second or two, just to get the full effect, and then I head to the trailer... and go to work on getting as dry as I can and putting on some carefully chosen warm clothes.

For the rest of the day I bundle up as much as possible, I look forward to the next year, and I am filled with warm memories of this plunge and plunges past. This year I was able to raise $905 dollars that with the help of very many wonderful people, all of it going for Special Olympics. This has truly been a great day for me.

You can see my Polar Plunge web site on my previous blog, with a picture of last year's belly flop!