The Polar Plunge

We rose, downed some Tylenol, grabbed some coffee, registered, and received our numbers. It was a beautiful sunny morning and in a few short hours, we would be plunging into the cold Atlantic Ocean. We donned our tutus and ears, painted our hair orange and our noses blue, and headed out the door. Somehow, the air seemed much colder as we held our Tony the Tiger sign high and walked down the street.

On the way to the parade

Horns honks, wolf whistles and manly calls of “meeooooww” echoed through the street. We are tigers damn it, “GRRRRRRRRR!”

We passed pirates, mermaids, superheroes, the entire Pac Man cast, candies, cavemen, wild hair, winged things, and a whole lotta things stuffed in spandex. We joined a parade, danced across a stage, and posed for dozens of pictures; all while the air seemed to get colder and colder.

The Pac Man Bunch

There were moments that warmed our hearts; watching a special needs PacMan gobble up dots and be grabbed by a ghost over and over and over again, with the same passion and fun and spirit each time. We posed for pictures time and time again, but I do not think any of us will forget the special young man who we surrounded and embraced for a photo. The sound of pure joy escaped from him as he clapped in excitement after our pose.

Watching the youthful spirit of the Bathing Beauty Costume Contest Winner and the sheer awe of the Redskins Bikini Lady made our spirits soar. The beach was filled with people really doing for others and being eternally fulfilled in return.

The Bathing Beauty

The chants of PO-LAR-PLUNGE-PO-LAR-PLUNGE let us know it was time and we ran down the boardwalk to the beach. As my feet hit the cool sand, my heart began racing. The four of us grabbed hands and began racing toward the shoreline. You could not help but hoop and holler in anticipation, the crowd calling out with the pure joy we heard earlier. We made it to the water and it did not seem quite so frigid, we continued running until it became increasingly difficult. I fell to my knees, dunked my head face first and spun up and brushed my dripping wet hair out of my face. Whistles and waves from the dive team sent us back towards the shore. The climb up the sand towards the backpack full of towels began.

PO-LAR PLUNGE

We wrapped up in towels and made our way through the cattle like crowd and onto the boardwalk. Somehow, we hung around with the crowd then walked three blocks, dripping wet back to our hotel. I’m not sure if it was the thought of the warm shower getting closer with each step or the sheer fact we were in physiologic shock that kept us in the “it’s not that bad” perspective. We rode home warm, munching on Wawa snacks, and renewed. It was truly an amazing 24 hour period for me.

I read a banner that struck a chord in my heart...

 Really, I might do this again… "they" deserve this and so much more.