ICE-urvived Brrrmidji's Polar Plunge

Yup, Ice-survived by not doing it. But 61 others did the plunge and survived including Barb, Tonya and Julie.

Mid-January brings among other things Brrrrmidji Polar Daze. And yup, just like "First City on the Mississippi", I dreamt up the name for this and was it's first chair about a dozen years ago when it was inaugurated. Yeah, I even decided how many "r's" are in Brrrmidji. Yes, and dreamt up all the puns and plays on words for events, most of which have been since dropped. I also came up with a sweat shirt that said "Ice-urvived Brrrmidji Polar Daze". But enough about me, I ain't done squat since that first year.

Now Barbara woke me about 11:30 AM on Saturday the 15th and said she and her absolutely nutty friend Tonya, were going to do the Polar Plunge at 1 PM. Well, it was about 15 degrees below zero with a wind chill. Talk about impulse. Course, it would have to be impulse because if you thought about it much you'd go back to bed.

It takes me awhile to wake up, but I did it because this needed to be documented. Barb been over a year now since breast cancer surgery, and just had her mammogram in the past month, and is clean. She changed in a few ways, some of which are more interesting than others. 

She has never taken photos in the thirty years I've known her, never owned a camera, now she's shooting very good photos of nature on her walks. She's never been a writer, but she's started a blog to showcase her photos and it's an enjoyable and thoughtful read. She went cross country skiing for the first time in her life in the last month with her friend Roger. And now she's gonna do the "plunge".

Now I have to say, that part of her madness is her hanging around with the likes of Tonya. They get pretty nutty when they are together, they laugh and do crazy things. They egg each other on, but Tonya is the younger and comes up with some doozies, but Barb goes right along. Keeps her young. So Tonya also tries to get two other women to come along, one who does...her sister-in-law Julie, and one who decided to do it vicariously and went back to bed. Two out of three ain't bad Tonya, especially with an hour and a half notice.

Oh, they paid 30 bucks to participate, and Barb even raised a few more bucks and got a t-shirt, the money went to the food shelf, a very good cause. Damn shame we have to have a food shelf in this country, don't get me going.

Here's the lay out. Two guys in the water and one up top to help you out. The water is warm, about 40 degrees, but they still won't stay in long. They say 61 crazies did the plunge.

Here comes Batty, Buggy, and Bonkers. Looks like they are getting some last minute instructions from someone dressed for the weather, perhaps she is asking them if they really want to do this silly thing.

Julie's clapping her hands like she's regressed to about age six, Tonya's slapped her head not quite enough times, while Barb is either getting in the zone or about to raise her fists to flatten the noses of her book end zanies and escape.

Julie and Tonya start to do the ice dance, while Barb is still clenching those fists.

Barb still seems to be crazed while her co-crazies seem relaxed visiting with other mad hatters, awaiting the pool to be emptied.

Barb finally must realize where she's at and what she's about to do and begins to laugh uncontrollably, or scream ACCCCCKKKKKKK, while friend Tonya steadies her so she don't fall over while singing:


Take me to the river, drop me in the water
Push me in the river, dip me in the water
Washing me down, washing me ~Talking Heads

Julie readies the start by jogging in place, Tonya says a happy prayer, and Barb considers whether she could actually leap over the pool to the other side and not get into the icy waters.

Clasping hands, the time has come. It's all come down to this. They can't quit now. Can they?

Here they come, walkin' 
Down the street.
They get the funniest looks from 
Ev'ry one they meet.
Hey, hey, they're the Monkees ~ Boyce and Hart (with apologies)

The trio walks on water for a split second before sinking up to their chests in some rather chilly waters. Lac de Faithe, no doubt? Oh yes, doubt or they wouldn't have sunk.

Well, they are smiling. Looks like a run for the ladder and looks like Barb beat 'em tuit, or maybe Tonya and Julie were being charitable.  Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo. Let's go, c'mon, c'mon.

What do you suppose they are saying? Or perhaps noises they are making? To the warming house, quickly change into dry clothes and make room for the rest of the zanies.

Note on Tonya's hair, you can actually see icicles forming. When it's 15 degrees below zero it don't take long for ice to form. They actually say this is good for the heart, thus the popularity of saunas.


Popsicles, icicles, baseball and fancy clothes
These are a few of the things he loves ~David Gates (The Murmaids '63)

Some folks were even crazier.

Believe it or not, these two were from Hawaii. Boy, were they in for a surprise. Looks like they're dressed for Waikiki.

The Bemidji Fire Department in full regalia. 

We did it!

Friends Forever! Baptized in the cold, frozen forever connected...unitl they thaw.

But where's Julie?

There she is, must have gotten lost looking for her glasses.

There's the trippy Trio, appearing better dressed for the weather than they did a moment ago. Seem none the worse for the experience.

And another view. After standing that way awhile, they were able to separate as the warmth of their bodies melted the connective ice.

Frozen again, I wanted to help straighten them out, but they wouldn't listen to me.

Tonya greets husband and daughter.

Packed up and ready to go. Another adventure finished. What wild and crazy thing do they ponder as they leave the ice of Lake Bemidjigamaag? I'll keep ya posted.