The Sinking Boat Story

I did a poll on what I should post about this week. This is the top choice by the people who voted (only 4 voted...Chad's Advisory, I expected more around 11 votes if you include Chad and Lori). More of you should vote next time. No, really, you should.

This school year has been short so far but I have had some pretty memorable adventures.

One is the day I was on a sinking boat.

You see, I was with a student I had never worked with before because another para was on vacation. Yeah. You read that right.

The other para got to take a camping trip and left all the rest of us behind!

I was pretty disappointed too, just like you are. Anyway, back to my story...

I was a slave driver. I mean, man did I work my student HARD. I made them set up projects and work on them and I cracked the whip like I was driving a stubborn mule...and maybe I was.

You never will know.

So back to my story...The student was a wonderful slave. They did everything I expected from them and worked extremely hard. Part of this is because they are a wonderful student and the other part is my awesome set of skilz, yo. You got that right.

I have SKILZ!

This student had asked me multiple times the week before if I would be willing to go in the row boat with them and the other para, who as I mentioned before had left us all behind while they went camping. I decided that since this para abandoned me, why not go in the row boat without them? You see my logic there? Actually, I decided that since the student did some really great work, that was very hard for them and very taxing, we should burn off some energy. I asked the student to take me out in the row boat.

The lake was GORGEOUS!

The day was beautiful and even though I am TERRIFIED of the water...wait! Did I forget to mention that?! I did! I am scared of the water. I really do not know how to swim. I grew up in the desert. Drought, no water and all that. So I have had a couple of what I feel were near death experiences (ok, so actually they were traumatizing experiences but hey let me hold on to this fear, ok?) So going out on a lake in a boat is a HUGE thing for me. 

(Emergent vegetation)

Now, please forgive me for not having pictures of this next part. We are going along and the student tells me that I should row some. Hey, I have a life jacket on, things are going good, why not? We trade spots, very dangerously I might add (at least in my eyes). I start attempting to row. It was TOUGH. I think I need more muscles in my arms, but I digress.

The student, bless their heart, laughed at my attempts, but I need to tell you that I really think I was doing a great job for the first time ever rowing a boat. All of a sudden I notice that there is

WATER

in the bottom of the boat! Yes! Water! I mentioned it and the student turned and said, "Oh no! There is a hole in the boat! I need to tell my dad so he can fix it! This is bad, it is very bad!"

The water is rising, rising, rising.

I am feeling a little, well, to be honest, I am feeling rather panicky. This is not good!

Pretty soon the water was about 3 inches deep. All of a sudden I realize that the student has a PLUG in their hand.

A PLUG! THE FREAKING BOAT HAS A PLUG!!!!!

WHAT THE CRACK!?!

Not only does this boat have a plug, but the student had pulled it and was now laughing at me. I told them to put the plug back in and they bent over to put it back in. Please note that they were tricking me here. I made the student trade paces with me and row us back to shore. How did I do this, you ask? I told you. I have skilz, yo. Mad skilz.

I realized after we traded places that the plug was still in their hand so I took it from them and put it in the drain hole (because that is the only thing that I can think a boat with a hole and plug would need it for). 

Note to self: Do not let the student sit by the plug ever again.

We made it back safely to shore. That is how I am able to tell you the story today.

I survived.

I AM A SURVIVOR!

I learned a lesson that day. Go camping on your days off and you will not drown.