Polar plunge...

On Sunday afternoon past we had the 27th Annual Polar Plunge at Rotary Park in Ennismore. That same evening, a slightly better attended and viewed (94 million + in North America alone) event called Super Bowl XLII from Arizona also occurred.

Bundled up in our -40 degree parkas and doofus hats and mitts (around here, we dress for comfort, not style), we drove to the plunge that has occurred for more than a quarter century at Bel Rotary Park on the shores of Chemong Lake.

Within an hour or so of our arrival and staking out a suitable spot to watch groups of crazed but well-intentioned individuals (money is raised for various charities) jump, dive, cannonball and belly flop into a hole approximately 20 feet square cut out of the frozen lake, the immediate area was indeed a sight to behold. Many dressed for the event; a group of young men presented themselves as the poor man’s answer to Chippendale dancers. Truth be known even if the real deal had been here, the end result would have yielded the same result – total shrinkage. Many other outfits were likely found in dusty attics and I believe the occasional flash of gray duct tape was seen holding something together. In addition to the various organizers, there were medical teams on standby, a diver in the water and half-dozen firefighters attempting to look earnest in full emergency survival gear at the hole’s perimeter. Snowmobiles of all vintages and colour and pick up trucks were “parked” on the frozen surface.

People were there to support friends and in our case, there was some morbid curiosity involved.

Off to one side were a couple of hot tubs, the steam rising thick in the cold air as our intrepid yet foolish divers plunged clumsily into them, many screaming silently after experiencing the bone chilling waters. I should also point out that some, young and old alike, must have undergone some kind of religious epiphany judging by their audible comments.

I digress; spectators were there to have a good time and support friends and numerous good causes.

The plunge was the “polar” opposite of the evening’s event. Presented in all its awe inspiring glory good old US of A glory. Unlimited budgets, overpaid athletes, celebrities and egos in a covered stadium “entertaining” the world at large. An astounding record was expected to be broken. It did not happen. The underdog team from New York beat the odds-on Vegas favorites.

Just like our merry bathers on Chemong, the Giants had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Our respect and admiration goes out to them all – but mostly to the unsung heroes, the everyday people who gave up their time and perhaps even momentarily jeopardized their health -- and all for what? A new environmentally friendly Cadillac Escalade Hybrid (now if that is not an oxymoron, I’m not too sure what is)? No; merely an enthusiastic cheer from their peers and a mug of hot steaming soup.

Quite often it’s the simple things that everyday people learn to appreciate the most.