Water Safety

The start of each summer of my childhood was marked by our annual screening of a water safety video in which the climax was a boy diving into a lake and striking his head on an unseen rock. Things did not turn out well for the boy. My father was a huge advocate for safety around water and notorious for enforcing the rules. He was also a CPR instructor, so we had many legless bodies to throw into the pool for "rescue" attempts. Thus my family should be knowledgeable about the interaction of storms, lakes, and boats. Not necessarily.

Our recent trip to the lake involved great periods of fun interspersed with summer storms. After the Mathenys braved a long drive full of detours to reach the house, we were insistent that we take the boat out for a short spin despite the gathering clouds.

Note the ominous sky behind Nicole and Steve

Cole and Mallory may not be worried, but Max is clearly

concerned by the upcoming storm.

Max readies the rope in case of an emergency.

He trusts no one but himself at the wheel.

HELP!

After one circle of the cove (and one hat blown overboard), we headed back to the safety of the dock. No sooner had we pulled in before the sky opened up. Mimi threw a towel over Max and started running up the 837 steps to the house. Halfway up the stairs, she was stung by an insect and Baba had to rescue them both. The rest of us stayed on the dock hoping to wait out the storm. The metal dock. On the lake. In the rain, thunder, and lightening. Despite all the knowledge we had acquired in childhood, none of us were concerned until the lights on the dock sparked and blew indicating that lightening had hit the water somewhere. Then we ran like the dock was on fire. Never before and never again will I run up all those steps.

Before our next trip I will be digging out the water safety video to review, just in case.