One of my favorite blog posts from this past year is Matt Scease’s “NRCM polar plunge – a survivor’s story” post. I was at the polar plunge on January 2nd, but couldn’t participate due to a recent surgery to remove my tonsils. I enjoyed the event and watching my colleagues and others run into – and then quickly out of – the ocean at East End Beach in Portland. What I never expected was that we would end the year the same way we started – with another polar plunge. And what I expected even less was that I would be a participant rather than a spectator this time.
I am not sure I will be able to write a “survivor’s story” after this Thursday’s plunge, so I decided to write in advance to say that I am nervous and frantically trying to figure out how I can survive this event in as warm and toasty a way as possible. I am trying to find someone who can run ahead of me and warm up my car (hopefully my sister will do that); I am trying to find someone who will hold my towel and NOT let it drop in the sand or water; and I am making sure that my office and desk are neatly organized in case I don’t make it back to NRCM after this event.
I am nervous, but also strangely excited. I have always said I wanted to do a polar plunge, and even did one at my other job two years ago – though it was in a kiddie pool filled with “ice water” (I think my boss put in a few pitchers of warm water) – so I don’t think it was nearly as cold as the Atlantic will be this Thursday. Plus, all of the money raised will be put to good use in our energy project – helping to reduce global warming pollution in Maine. If you would like to pledge me or any of the other “polar bears,” please visit https://www.nrcm.org/events/polar-bear-dip-dash/.
I hope that if you are in the Portland area this Thursday (December 31st) at noon, you will head to East End Beach (off the Eastern Prom) and cheer us on as we end the year in the same way we started it – by being bold in the cold!
Happy Holidays!
Beth
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