6-8-16

Tonight I'm thinking, replaying today's near tragedy. The fear, intense emergency, strength, power, action & shock. Now analyzing I'm in disbelief, praying & very thankful to be here...standing on this dock tonight with Bob. I had thee scariest situation happen while kayaking this afternoon. I can't adequately describe how things went from good to bad so quickly while kayaking this calm river. Bob, Harley & I have paddled this river before & it's mostly a float with about 4 areas you need to take your boat out of the water & walk around to avoid some tricky places. But today a poor choice to go under a bridge capsized me from my kayak & the undertow drug me back towards the churning, powerful water. It was pulling me down, I was grasping for the kayak which was getting tumbled all around. I couldn't swim away from the back-current & I saw my certain drowning. I don't know how I grabbed the concrete bridge support pillar but I got a hand on it & I clung with everything I had. Time was ticking and I wouldn't be able to hold long as the water continued to pull me away. Unaware where Bob was he luckily saw me struggling, jumped to the shore & ran on top of the bridge. A bystander couldn't reach me from the side shore and Bob being high up on the bridge didn't have leverage to securely grab me and pull me to safety. I was screaming to please quickly get me up. This bystander held Bob's legs as Bob dangled over the side. My strength was nearly gone...I had only a few seconds. I screamed NOW you must pull me up now. He got my arm as I hung on with all my might. Somehow Bob reached deep within & pulled me up to get my stomach on the bridge edge. He & the bystander got me up the rest of the way. I collapsed on the bank, gasping, in shock, crying while Bob held me. My kayak continued to roll around, stuck in the river washing machine under the bridge. Later two kayakers got my boat out. Bob & I stayed on the shore for a good hour before having to get back in our kayaks to paddle the remaining 30 minutes to the end of the river.

The emergency is behind me but the vision of the sequence of events with it's intensity is hard to get out of my mind. It's emotional...it's a LOT of things with the big WHAT IF? We learned...a LOT and have a renewed appreciation for life. Each day is a GIFT. Bob & I enjoy our adventurous activities and I always feel we are cautious & careful. We both agree this was very poor judgment today to paddle under the bridge unaware of the danger. We had also taken our lifejackets off earlier...because the river had been so calm. Never again. I am a good swimmer but in a situation like this...you can't beat the power of water. I hate to admit our stupidity in what happened but I must...so DUMB. I must thank God for saving me...I saw the tragic ending in those moments. I'm so very thankful for another chance, another day to be here with those I love. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

PS: This beautiful dandelion was on the shoreline at the river's end. A delicate reminder that God who created these wispy flower details loves me too.