Trouble on the "high seas"

I have to start by saying that I easily had the most fun I have had in quite some time with the whole family together! It was SO great to all be together, I am beside myself with the joy and internal solitude this weekend brought us.

The family came up to Lincoln for the 4th and we had an enjoyable afternoon and evening. The weather was perfect and not too hot, thankfully. We hung out, the boys broke in the Playstation 3, watched fireworks and ate some YUMMY food :) We also had a visit from Brittany and Jason with the twins and it was the first time Tommy had seen the "babies" in person! Although some of the day was spent just hanging out, both my Mom and I commented how great it was to just hear Bubba laughing! He really has an infectious laugh, you can't help but join in whenever Tommy laughs {{{grin}}}

Saturday was to be a historic day.....Chris and Tommy have been rafting with my Dad previously with the company he guides for, Whitewater Excitement. My Dad has been guiding for them for several summers and was able to secure a spot for all of us to go together with Dad guiding. Mom and I have never been in one of the rafts.....or on the river.....at least this part of the river.

Check out our guide.....It's Poppa Bear!

So, history was to be made on this, our maiden voyage. As evidenced by my picture, I was ready to go! Now, mind you.....for whatever reason I have never been a fan of open water. I am just tickled to be on the boat and floating.....I enjoy it, but being IN the water is another story. For that reason, knowing I COULD end up in the water this trip....in rapids....I was pretty much in denial about the whole scenario. None the less, once we got going we all settled in for a nice "stroll" down the American River. I have to say, it is pretty neat that within an hour or so from home I have the ability to come experience such a wonderful gift from nature....despite the smoke lately of course!

The raft trip takes several hours and as the journey continues you find that you are "warmed up" for "bigger water" as the trip goes on. There are rapids named "Trauma Falls", "Trouble Maker", and "Satan's Cesspool", so you can imagine that to a novice, just the names start to make your heart rate go up....at least just a little bit. The other reality is that you realize that you are not in the infamous log ride 'Splash Mountain' at Disneyland.....and this is not your 'laughing place' when you watch other boats navigate these 'dancing waters' beyond the horizon line.

In all my life I have hung on each word that my Dad utters as there is undoubtedly years of wisdom being shared. My Dad is not a man of many words....but when he speaks....you listen. During a commercial rafting trip your guide tells you all about each rapid, how to "lock in" for each rapid, when to paddle and when you are in a quiet zone.....today's trip was no different, of course except for the annoying ridiculous questions coming from his ever obnoxious daughter :P
We made it through our first BIG WATER unscathed....or as the guides say "without swimmers" (everyone stays in the boat). We made our way toward a rapid that my Dad told us was a favorite of his.....however, it would require two of us (my Mom and I) to hold on at a certain point as the seats we were in are the EJECTION SEATS! We had EXPLICIT instructions on when to grab for a hold and let the boys do the paddling to ensure or rear-ends would not go flying out of the boat.

The river had another plan.

As we "dropped in" I knew it was time to reach for the handle.....as my gaze drifted to my handle I caught a site unlike I expected....it was Chris literally floating in mid-air.....out of the boat....as I watched him (in slow motion of course) I continued to look left only to realize that Tommy and Mom were also no longer passengers in the boat. Prepared to take orders from my mighty captain I instantly looked back to find that I was alone in the raft. So, at this point the term problem solving somehow becomes crystal clear. Whether or not you ave ANY knowledge of what to do.....you do it. Luckily my Dad had his paddle......I secured my paddle to free up both hands and was able to grab his paddle and pull him toward the boat. I grabbed his PFD straps at the shoulder and felt as though I threw him in with She-Ra strength (later he told me he managed to perch a foot on a rock and push himself.....but the story is much more dramatic without that detail) next it was on to Chris who had grabbed a hold of the raft.....I pulled him up and Dad had taken the helm again. Then it was on to Mom and Tommy who were now at least 10 yards ahead of the boat being carried downstream. Dad is calmly reminding them of the 'in case of emergency' scenarios we had talked about all afternoon....."river left, feet up". We ended up getting to both of them.....down 2 paddles and were quickly approaching the next set of rapids.....we managed through, plucked our paddles out of the river and truthfully continued to enjoy being together. We ended the day with a nice picnic lunch and a trip to the professional photo booth......those pictures will surely make an appearance here when they arrive.

I distinctly remember hearing my Dad talk about water over the years and how it quickly earns your respect and is an incredible force......Not that I did not believe him, thing is....I KNEW it HAD to be true. If a relative 'thing' could earn my Dad's trust and those words....I knew it was nothing to mess with. The river had given us a lovely example.....and all I could think was......"what did you learn?"

First, there is no I in team. A team driven by trust, can accomplish anything.

Second, S--- happens. Even with the best laid plans.....things go wrong. Not only that, but they can go south fast. It's not about what happened.....it's about what happens after.

Third, we have an incredible journey and story to share.....as a family....not just the 4 of us as it has been for so very many years.....but Chris was on our 'team'. Being so close to your family is good and bad.....no matter the love and bond you share with your spouse there are family stories, adventures, etc. that they were not a part of.....now he is a part of this story......♥