16 Comments
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Victor D. Sandiego's avatar

Got my lovely solar hot water heater I installed a few years back and no cold plunges for me. Don't think I could handle that. Good for you James taking the dip. Snow melt...brave move...

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K.C. Knouse's avatar

Your description of the view from the bridge is ominous and your reluctance to jump is palpable. Your account of your struggles in the ice water is riveting, James. I didn't expect that level of intensity. You found the humor in it, as always.

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James Ron's avatar

Hi, K.C. You made my day! I do so appreciate your take on the events. I hope the stories I read from writers like yourself are rubbing off on me. Thank you.

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K.C. Knouse's avatar

It was my pleasure, Brother.

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Switter’s World's avatar

We have a river so cold that no one who dives in stays in long enough to get wet. It’s straight off an ice pack.

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James Ron's avatar

Yeah, that's cold.

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Debbi's avatar

Before the story began I read your heading as “you think you are here,”-the word, “thank you” (for being here) must’ve crept up into my vision. But it certainly fit with the story which I adored so; thank you for sharing. It brought back a deeply buried memory of alean to in the mountains in Colorado. I was about 12 years old. It was snowing outside, probably two or 3 feet had accumulated.We steamed up that little lean to using the potbelly stove, which was the only source of heat for cooking or warmth. The little boy, my age, who lived there with an adult friend, and I jumped out into that snow naked and rolled around, it was an amazing night. Thanks for the memory. stories are such amazing triggers.

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James Ron's avatar

Hi, Debbi. Thank you! Sounds like you had a fine adventure in those mountains. I'm glad my story triggered such a neat memory from your past.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Oh, I loved this story, Ron! Your writing just gets better and better. This line is so funny: "Seems it might also cause a stroke." Hah! Yes. I had to go put on my sweater. Great work.

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James Ron's avatar

You put a smile on my face, Sharron, thank you! It'll be hot here today, maybe even so in Santa Cruz.

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Jim Melvin's avatar

Wow, what a great description! The coldest water I've ever been in was around 50 degrees, and that was shocking. I can only imagine how you must have felt.

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James Ron's avatar

Hi Jim. Thank you! The water off the coast here is down in the 50s. I've only been in it a couple of times. Briefly. Way too cold for me. Cold like that feels almost painful and not a natural thing to do.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Oooh man! A plunge like that would do me in at this point. My oldest granddaughter is a college rower and takes cold plunges after working out. Not for me!

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James Ron's avatar

Ha. Me, too. My heart would say, "That's it. I'm done. It's a wrap." Very cool re your granddaughter. I could handle cold better when I was young.

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The Radical Individualist's avatar

The way you tell it, I feel like I was there. But I'm glad I wasn't!

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James Ron's avatar

Thank you very much. I'm glad now that it is a memory. But at the time I was wondering, "What was I thinking?"

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