RE: [Paddlewise] Too-eager wife and in-laws

>my gift to myself is the comfort of my wife having professional kayak 
>lessons, and thus I'm buying her the begginers class.  It's "my" 
>birthday, so how could she refuse to accept "my" gift to "myself"???  

Excellent idea!  Hopefully the pro instructor will impart some
knowledge upon her that she's refused to accept from you, and you might
end up with a really competent paddling partner.  I wish you well!

> trying to get her to read DEEP TROUBLE, but she refuses on the
grounds 
> that it will take all the fun out of getting into paddling

I tried to get my wife to read it, too, but she refused on the grounds
that she's not into kayaking.  She's right (as a wise husband must
often be able to admit!) and as long as she doesn't ever try to
"overstep" her bounds, there's no need for her to read it.  Admittedly,
it's an altogether different scenario than you're confronted with.

Several of my wooden kayak building friends have read DEEP TROUBLE, and
their wives, who are excited about kayaking, have voluntarily read it,
and mentioned to me how sobering it was.  Imagine that, a wise wife who
would keep one out of kayaking accidents just like the wise wives who
keep us out of traffic accidents with their cajoling from the passenger
seat!

> she's not going into the wilderness.....just into the
> Cheseapeake Bay.  

And there are probably a lot of areas in the Chesapeake that are
farther from "civilization" than the San Juan Islands, where not a few
DT incidents took place.

My mistake..... there must be some "no accident" law around
> here that
> I'm not aware of.  
> 
> Incidentally, in showing her the story about the guy last Fall...she
> and my in-laws were speculating on what happened.  

Well, you've got the ball rolling!  You just need a "Respected Wise
Buddy" around to disperse insight that won't be quickly discounted!

Don't act too shocked if she gets back from kayak class and tells you
all her instructor told her about foot entrapment. :) The information
will be oh-so-much-more official and believable when it came from the
instructor.  Just act pleased with the information she "just" learned!

(and Happy Birthday!)

Shawn

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