Re: [Paddlewise] A Southern California Tragedy

From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:28:10 -0700
Steve Holtzman wrote:

> When I returned from the hospital last Sunday after hearing the doctor
> pronounce my friend dead, my wife asked me to promise never to paddle solo
> again. We got into a heated discussion about it when she finally said to me.
> "If you care at all about me, you won't paddle alone---and if you don't, I'm
> going to take a chain saw to all of your boats."
> 
> T-his afternoon immediately after the funeral was over and we had all taken
> turns putting dirt on top of the coffin, she said to me, that I know how she
> feels but she will not hold me to my promise and that I could paddle when
> and where I want.
> 
> I think I'll be paddling with at least one friend from now on.

Also a sometime solo paddler, albeit in waters very benign.  And, I've 
never had a reaction like that from my long-time fiancee.  Early on, she 
reversed her stance on wearing the farmer john on cold water, and began to 
wear one ... not so much for her own safety, but more because she felt if 
she continued without, she might endanger me, as I tried to keep her from 
becoming hypothermic if she were to go into our cold water.

Lyle Lovett said, in one of his compositions, "If I were the man you 
wanted, I would not be the man that I am."  Seems like it might apply here.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************
Received on Thu Mar 15 2007 - 21:28:19 PDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:31:23 PDT