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Opening Arguments

Polar express

My friend told me several months ago she was going to do this Polar Bear Plunge thing on New Year's Day, and I didn't quite believe her. Why would anybody want to leave a nice, warm house on a bitter winter day, strip to practically nothing and jump into the icy river? A desire to display bravado? Boredom with civilization's niceties? An expression of their toughness? A death wish?

I do wish to be supportive, so I read all the accounts and watched the YouTube video ( watch?v=MDblXFRKpp4 ), and thought and thought about it. I even read stuff by Mitch Harper, who has not only done this four years in a row but decided to get into a, um, plunging match with someone from another club who says mean things about our Polars; and Stephen Parker, who just took the video and was smart enough to stay out of the water.

I think I finally understand now.

Those people are nuts!

Posted in: Our town

Comments

K
Fri, 01/02/2009 - 8:09pm

It. Was. Awesome.

Stephen Parker
Fri, 01/02/2009 - 11:56pm

Hi Leo,

Thank you for the mention. I'll tell you something. I also had similar thoughts to yours. It was a no-brainer for me this year not to plunge as I've finally successfully defeated a nasty sinus infection. However, I will be open to the idea next year.

You really had to be there! A rowdy (good rowdy, not football hooligans gone wild) bunch of people - some dressed in costume, others that would probably never appear in public in similar state. But that's the idea - let loose a little - especially after the past few weeks of nasty weather.

So I'm reserving my final judgment on this one until I work up the nerve to try it, perhaps next year. If I do, I'll be the one in orange hair, fuzzy pink slippers and moo-moo from h**l!!

Thank you again!

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