Polar Bear 2003

There's my mom and Mike. Mom can't believe she raised a kid so crazy that he just had to jump in the cold cold lake on the first of January, and Mike is glad that his friend fulfilled the promise he made years ago.

And now comes the worst part, getting dressed for the long walk back to the car. We had to park at least 15 minutes away, and didn't jump in till about 12:30 (you're supposed to go at noon).

But then comes the best part, wrapping yourself up in a nice, warm, ugly blanket. You have to do that because your pants are so full of burrs that you are unable to wear them and you still have your swimming suit that you wore into the cold lake on. Not that it happened to me or anything...

Finally, here's my crazy gang that accompanied me on that wondrous day. Oh, as my heart wept with joy for those who I held most dear shared something special with me. Ah, shame on you whom I didn't invite (almost everyone), you who slept (Tim, James), and you who I just don't care about anymore (a small minority, I promise!). But you can make it up to me next year when we get like 60 people there to represent pookon.com and furthermore be represented by pookon.com when your picture appears on the website. But at least come to the Wintersplash the next time it snows (if it ever does again this pitiful winter), I will at least consider you to be partially forgiven. I love you guys.