Remember earlier this week when I recapped my Saturday with my Mom? And how concerned I was I couldn’t feel my toes? Well, now its time for you to hear about Amanda’s weekend…
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My girlfriend was getting a group of people together to participate in the 17th Annual MSP 2013 Polar Bear Plunge. At first I was hesitant, but it benefited the Special Olympics and so I thought it’s a great cause, why not?!
To be honest I was nervous and yes, a little excited to do the plunge… more nervous though. Maryland was going through a VERY cold spell! All I could think about was being in the freezing cold water when it’s hardly 10 degrees outside. A week prior to the plunge I asked my brother if he would like to do it with me. My brother Zac is 20 years old and has Downs Syndrome. He is always up for anything any time anywhere, and any tempurature. Yes, he is crazy! I was so glad he decided to do it with me and he was so excited to do it. This was a first for both of us.
Luckily a “heat” wave blew in to Baltimore the Friday night before the plunge. It was almost 30 degrees when we plunged, and the water tempurature was a steamy 34 degrees!
Zac and I enjoyed the nice warm ride down there and caught a bus/transit from the Navy Memorial Stadium to Sandy Point where the plunge was being held. We arrived to Sandy Point State Park and there was so much to do and see there, but we didn’t have that much time to see or do everything. There were activites for kids, food, and music. It was a fun atmosphere.
Ok, the Plunge. We followed the massive crowd to the beach and hesitantly stripped down to our bathing suits. We finally reached 30 degrees and it wasn’t quite as cold as I thought it was going to be. Zac stripped down without a care in the world and to be honest I think we were still a bit warm at 30 degrees. The man never wears a jacket and is always hot…
They count down and Zac and I take off running hand in hand (I’m squeezing his hand so hard Im sure it was numb), we run in waist high Zac is gasping for air, and I am screaming because I didn’t know what else to do. I said to myself if I’m going in I’m going in all the way and DUNK I went under. Then making sure I hadn’t lost Zac grabbed his hand and ran out.
Both cold and wet finally make it to a tent and get some dry clothes on. I can’t remember being so happy to put on dry clothes in my life. All is all it was a wonderful experience and I’m so glad that my friend Julie talked me into it. I recommend everyone should try it once. All I can say is what an experience! From the beginning!
