Kate's Point of View

Pretty soon starts what is pretty much the most stressful time of year for me. For lots of people. I’m trying very hard to prepare myself for the holiday madness. I have lots of my Christmas gifts purchased and all of those are wrapped and in my attic. (I love the wrapping part so that wasn’t actually preparing for anything – it was a treat!) I have already started with mental mantras. “It’s going to be okay.” “Things won’t drive you nuts.” “You will be calm.” We’ll see.

So I have a new thing I thought I would try. During the holidays I’m going to try for a thing a day I am thankful for, knowing I’ll miss a few days during the rush of events.

Today I want to state that I am thankful that I am thankful for my family. In a few weeks when I am running from one family event to another, I’ll forget that but it’s true. Yesterday my little sister sent out a request to all three of her siblings and our parents asking of anyone could spare a car for while hers was being repaired. ALL of us replied we could help her. It was a pretty big inconvenience for everyone but we were will to do it.

I was stunned. She was, too. I spoke with her later in the day and she said how overwhelmed she was by the kindness. While I might not be the recipient of everyone’s offers to help, I am happy to be part of a family that’s there for each other. It’s nice to know you have people backing you up.

This Sunday we attempted to take part in the annual ritual of canoeing. Wonder Boy and I attempt to do that at least once a year. It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy nature, the river and a few beers. As we were driving to the canoe livery to meet some friends, the skies looked a wee dark. Wonder Boy, who checks the weather report every morning, assured me there was only a low chance of rain and that not even until later in the day.

You know this is that part of the movie where they give away the whole plot, if you’re watching for it, right?

The canoeing was going swimmingly. Wonder Boy and I were having a blast and our friends in the other canoe were hysterical to watch. And then we heard a loud boom of thunder and saw lightning streak across the sky. Someone in the other canoe screeched and we all sat there, in the middle of the river wondering what to do.

The decision was to keep moving. After all, we had sprung for the fiberglass canoes and maybe the storm would pass around or over us. Ha! Within minutes the lightning and thunder were getting closer and then the rain started. We quickly pulled over to the shore and all huddled under a tree. That’s when the gods started dumping on us with huge raindrops.

Trees, by the way, do not make for very good shelters. We got drenched. Bon chillingly drenched.

After about 15 minutes the storm abated and we got back into the water with the plan to paddle quickly to the quickest stop for the livery and head for home. While paddling, I saw another canoe travelling empty down the rover. Its riders were behind me some 50 yards.

In an attempt to be a good Samaritan, I got out of our canoe and swam towards the empty one. The swimming went fund. The getting into the river did not. I assumed the river was deeper than it was and landed shin first on a sharp rock. The river actually was deeper everywhere else, just not on that one rock… I caught the canoe, helped some people get it to the side and empty it and then looked at my leg. There was a three-inch-long gash and it was all white. Puss-colored white. Disconcertingly white. Even Wonder Boy, a RN, was immediately concerned and told me to get in the canoe.

After a lot of antiseptic spray and antibiotic cream, my leg looks normal scabby maroon so that is good. And I have this great baseball size knot on my shin to show off so that’s pretty awesome.

Went canoeing this summer? Check.