Polar Bear Plunge

The Cold wings, the sharp staggering waters will not break my spirit of being free and expressionate...nothing shall break the joy of feeling proud...of being that plunger!

Polar Bear Plundge –

Jan 1^st  2011– Sullivan’s Island

New Year’s day, I had the opportunity to have a small adventure.  Started off with my sister-in-law asking me to acompany her to see her friend do the Polar Bear Plunge.  Without debating the thought I agreed and off we were to Sullivan’s Island.

It was a gloomy kind of day, clouds were hanging low, the wind felt chili, however, the temperature was in its 60s inland and it felt rather good to be wearing a light jacket and not the heavy duty artic layers.  The closer we got to Sullivan’s island the tighter the traffic became, not reazing what in the world was a Polar Bear Plunge (other than people going into the freezing waters), I failed to yield to the concept of MASSIVE amounts of people uniting for what it seemed as a pointless almost with no meaning purpose of the plunge (for those of us who knew/know nothing of the event).  However, there is a purpose, to raise awareness of the special olympics here.

There was almost no where to park.  There were cars all perfectly lined up on both sides of the road and every empty gap signaled the intensity of people’s crave for an adrenaline rush – such excitment to be in bathing suits getting ready to plunge into the cold waters of the Atlantic.  I was mesmerized to even fathom the thought of jumping in.  Needless, I was out there supporting everyone- let’s just say I was there to support my Sister-in-law while she supported her good friend.  Finally! We parked at a church.  Off we were running to get to the starting point.  We could not see anything.

We hurried our pace as we could hear the loud screams of people rallying and warming up to the thought of jumping in the murky waters.  As we reached the beach, we were in awe of the beauty of the thickness of the fog.  Yes, it was fogy enough that it was impossible to spot the massive crowd! We could hear the chants, the screams, the laughter, and it was all as if we were sorrounded by ghostly presence as we could not spot how far the sound was coming from nor see any human presence.  We walked faster and many people followed us, all hurriedly and excitedly kept rushing towards the noise as no one wanted to miss out on this great adventure, this most intriguing aspect of the human nature.

We paused here and there for some random pictures of our sight and bewilderment.  It was beyond description how the fog just danced around us as we made our way and the fact people were grinning with never ending joy! So many people! Amazing! I was lost all of the sudden swallowed by the vast amount of people chatting, laughing, drinking hot chocolate, some were even warming up their bodies with the strongest of liquors, others brushed by me wearing the most hysterical suits, while others wore plain speedos and tights.  Some got as creative as to paint boxes for what they believe in, others wore their favorite customes.  Fred and Wilma from the Flinstones made an apparance, as did an elderly pair dressed in Pimp outfits, and going on and on....it was an incredible number of colors, brightness, and even the sound of kids screaming in joy cleared the way of such fogyness around.  Their glittery eyes, the sparkling smiles gave way for such a sunny day although hidden amongs the thickness of the fog, yet it made it self present at that one particular moment in time.

As the wind increased and gave way broadcasting the rain to come, up and down came the peculiar flags, all swaying back and forth with such a bravery as if announcing the victory of such great battles, some were pointless pieces of clothes, there were the North American flags, SC flags, pirates, others were wind chimes, clown faces, balloons, and of course football fans made a presence.  Such a form of expression it was that regardless of what the flag represented for everyone else, for that one person waving it meant the world at that particular moment.

As we mingled attempting to spot my sister-in-law’s friend, we strangely found our selves sorrounded with many imaginative and creative minds in customes! As we glanced around the crowd became fierce, brave and the counting began! Although hard to make out what was being directed, there came the rush of screams and loud laughter of what the HECK! And on went the first wave of people into the water! We rushed to get out of their way as it appeared to be some kind of stampeede of women, men, and children just plunging into the waters as do the seals during the hunting season!

One, two, three, fifty, holly cow! I don’t know! It was one too many people all jumping in at once! Some raised their arms into the sky as if proclaiming their victorious thriumph over some kind of human struggle or better yet, announcing that the water was cold enough to send you out in a heart beat! I stood there attempting to capture the moment with pictures of such an unimaginable act of kindred spirited folks united for what many would consider a ridiculous and pointless purpose, but that’s what made it such excitment! That people hunger to be together, be loud, noisy, and satisfy that hunger to show off their pride of being out there and do something as a community, as one! People from all backgrounds, social status, characters, and even people from all sorts of walks of life were out there united and in unison they took the plunge!

As we stood there giving it one last chance to find my sister in law’s friend, we stood gazing and laughing at the sound of what once had been warm screams and laughters became runny noses, heavy caughs, and snifflers! It was quite the change of ambiance, needless, people still kept ranting and demonstrating their pride of having accomplished one of the most dangerous of stunts ever performed by any double! The dances switched to shivering feet – it almost felt as is being in the cast of Happy Feet, the warm faces were a nice purply mixed with the heat of the human body being released into the thick fog giving way for an even denser air. Everyone was huddling together to stay warm and even though the winds were cold, they kept rallying while attempting to also locate their group!

Such is our human nature, to perform an act of sillyness yet in the end it has more meaning and a purpose than one could imagine.  In the end, people don’t realize that although mixed as they were, dressed as the most splendid of characters to the most ridiculous of things ever thought of, yet they accomplished what many of us fail to do or have.  To have that courage, that pride to do something out of the ordinary and take the plunge into the unknown, the cold waters of rejuvenation, the saltiness of adventure, and further the satisfaction of having completed a year and still be able to breath the beachy air mixed with the scents of many drinking their favorites on the cold sandy island of Sullivan’s Island.  Such was the moment that all were greeted with the new splash of new life and released to continue with their new year’s resolution as one could imagine everyone out there had thought of one.

And so, this was the Polar Bear Plunge! People united and eagerly waiting with positive excitment to do something for what they believe! The crazy pajamas, the loud screams, the shattering of cold bodys, the little people running with such glittery smiles and radiant spirits, such was the end of an adventurous Polar Bear Plunge! The show came to a close with a perfect harmony of the curtain of rain falling upon us declaring that it was time to head out and mingle home, to sit and drink hot chocolate, tea, or coffee and warm up the body, soul and mind.  Far across the dense fog, rain, and wind, a freight ship blew is horn as if declaring its total gratitude for the multitude of spectators, performers, and cherful crowd.  It was a show like no other and worth every minute given to forget all troubles and unite with so many other people to do something together.  Take the Plunge!

Monday, January 03, 2011 @ 11:23am