February 20th, we knew 5 out of the 393 nutty (yet chariable ;-) people who jumped in the frozen Portage Lakes to raise money for the American Cancer Society. And, everyone actually lucked out...we had one of the best weather-days of 2010 so far, nearly 40 and sunny.
It was quite an event - 393 jumpers and about 4000 spectators. Nick, Bennett, and I came out to support the 5 crazies we knew who were going for a swim : Lisa, Lesa, Dr. Dang, Crissy, and Dale. Parking was insane...here we are waiting for the bus to come shuttle us from the parking lot to the jump site.
Before the jumping even started (but after an incident that acquainted me with the fact that Ben is petrified of port-a-potties)...Bennett was whining about the cold. (Even though it was so warm, that at some point I took my coat off. And this fact alone, I'll have you know, means it was NOT that cold out.) I believe in this picture he just got finished saying, "I'm cold. Hold me."
Here are my friends - Lisa, Lesa, and Dr. Dang, waiting for their turn to jump...
jumping...
...and Crissy and Dale jumping.
Look at what a good sport Lisa is...Bennett wanted to take her picture with my phone (his latest fun thing to do.) She hadn't even changed out of her cold, wet clothes. And the wind was picking up! What a trooper!
Proud popsicles.
Just a popsicle. (waiting for the bus back to the car.)
Nick and Ben raced to our car (the white one...so they've got quite a long way to go yet...) Nick was showing no mercy that day, and pulled ahead full speed. Ben stopped and performed his "cowardly lion" impression. Real, this time.
See? He's saying, "Dad's not supposed to be able to BEAT ME!!!"
So, it was a fun day. No one died of hypothermia, cardiac arrest, or the like (although the Metro LifeFlight was on standby). However, there was some excitement. Some dude stripped down to nothing, was wrestled to the ground by my friend Mel's husband who is a cop, and was arrested. Several 30-something year old guys jumped in the lake in their white boxer briefs. Looked fine jumping in, ba-a-a-ad coming out. And a spectator standing on the frozen lake fell through the ice. Wonder if anyone sponsored her retroactively, since she technically took a dunk...?
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