Rafting 2007 - WWE – White Water Excitement - An Ode to my Friends

WWE – White Water Excitement - An Ode to my Friends

The weekend of August 18, 2007 will forever be etched in our minds. 17 of us who camped together and 15 of us who went river rafting. All emotions known to man were experienced during this trip.

With the help of a few drinks I was able to unburden my feelings to a dear friend. Feelings that I could not have conveyed to her otherwise – the perils of a conditioned mind was broken down by intoxication…I could cry for a friend who lost his father (whom I have never even met) only to be replaced by a brand new soul in form of his son. Also I could cry and tell my darlin’ husband how I feel his childhood pain of not having the guidance and love of his father growing up, having to be the man of the house at the age of 15. Nope I am not proud of perhaps the most embarrassing moment of my life, but I am glad that maybe by unburdening myself I helped with the pain that these people felt which results in closure.

Rafting started with a big bang – with everyone excited and raring to go – most of us were probably nervous but HEY there was no looking back at that moment. Trusting a complete stranger to guide us thought the Rapids was the only way to go. We were almost more than half way through the first half of the river -- with one of the scariest rapid behind us done with panache we were feeling great and ready to tackle the next when we saw a friend in the water with others in his boat no where to be seen. We were so sure his leg was stuck between these huge rocks and he seemed like he was in a trance – unable to comprehend what had happened we too were in a daze till it slowly but surely began to dawn on us that the boat he was in had capsized with everyone onboard thrashed into the mercy of the rapid and the currents that followed it. Here we saw love if this emotion could be seen. He refused to enter the boat and all he wanted to know was if his wife was okay and if she was safe. A heroic effort from one of our boat members to pull him in was met with success – there are photos to prove this effort. Moved forward and seeing all our friends safe and on board various boats we all finally breathed a breath of relief once we were assured that no one was hurt and all accounted for. After that we all were silent –

probably each one thinking what a close call this was.

Two of the non- swimmers were on that boat - and God only knows how they kept calm under the crazy circumstances, waiting and not knowing if help was coming…not knowing if this was it, their mind and hearts racing a thousand times a second. Hats of to you girls who are one of the bravest people I know, not only to you two but all our friends who fell into the river only to recoup and have the guts to climb onboard and tackle the whole river again.

That is part of the story of boat #1. Boat #2 out of our group of friends,3 were sharing the boat with an American family. Out of the three of them, two fell out as well at another rapid. Their boat hit a rock and all of them on right side fell off and they almost missed hitting a rock – if I heard correctly.

This followed another mishap to the same American family sharing the boat with ouR friends, after which we all were brave enough to have a few water fights.

At the end of the journey the most scared person out of all of us was brave enough to ask to be seated at the front of the boat and tackle a couple of rapids. Way to go gurls…

In the 24 plus hours we spent with each other, we all felt if not all the emotions – most of the emotions known to man. Tears, laughter, morbid fear for ourselves and others, bravery, heroism, anger ---- and throw in whatever emotion you can think of, this would be part of a summation of our Camping cum Rafting adventure. I’m sure we all have our own bone chilling summations.

Thanks to all my friends who accompanied Johnny and me to this once in a lifetime experience…you all are troopers and I am glad to have such friends who can stare fear in the eye and still have the guts to go on and give moral support to each other. You all ROCK big time.

Thanks John to kiss your fears Goodbye and come along with the whole trip - just for me.....LOVE YA.

And finally to end on a lighter note – who’s up for next year ;)