Rrrrrrr & Brrrrrr… Polar Plunge and a Poem!

The Polar Plunge on New Year’s Day.  People gather.  People huddle (unless, of course, it’s NOT winter in a cold climate!).  People jump and laugh with a camaraderie like no other.

Some stare nervously at the ocean and wonder WHY?... generally finishing the question with am I doing this?

Ah.  There are lots of reasons for taking The Plunge on New Year’s Day.  It’s an “I’m Alive” way to greet the incredible opportunities and challenges and goals of a brand New Year.  It’s a cleansing… bringing in the New Year with a clean slate, so to speak.  It’s a way to join with family and friends in fabulous fun with a cold (OK, frigid) twist!

Barry and I have done many Polar Plunges.  Occasionally… and I will repeat occasionally… we’ve been joined in this endeavor with family members and friends.  Most years, we’ve frolicked in the icy ocean waters of Rhode Island together, with more timid folks waving from shore.  But this year was different.  Very different.  On this New Year’s Day 2011, Barry and I were joined by our son Adam, friends Dave and John… and 2 of our grandchildren, 9-year old Maddie and 6-year old Jake…

… and as hundreds of Plungers and spectators began to gather on the beach, Maddie and Jake got more excited by the moment.  There’s sort of a system to this Plunging thing. First, you keep all of your cold-weather gear piled onto your body.  As noon approaches, you begin to take off one layer of warmth… then another… and another.  It’s all about getting your body acclimated to the cold.  And this is when this 2011 Polar Plunge became magical for me.  As Maddie’s layers got down to just her bathing suit and her bare feet, she was cold.  By then, it was time for the Plungers to gather in a huge group at the center of smiling spectators.  Adam took Jake’s hand.  Maddie and I locked hands and ran to the merry, loud, hooting & howling group.  We wrapped our arms around each other as both Plungers and spectators yelled with delight and snapped photos and took videos.  Maddie and I forgot all about our shivering and watched Adam, Jake, Grandpa, Dave & John as we counted down the TEN-NINE-EIGHT-SEVEN-SIX-FIVE-FOUR-THREE-TWO and all the way down to ONE.

Then it was TIME.  Maddie and I held hands and RAN to the water’s edge.  The ocean.  In January.  In New England.

And this is where THE POEM GERMAN SHEPHERD by Myra Cohn Livingston comes in.  On that run to the water’s edge, I wasn’t thinking tides or ebbs or waves and foam or ocean… I wasn’t thinking anything but the miracle of the day and the hand I was holding.  It was pure.  It was play.  It was magic.  Then, as our feet and then legs and then waists and then heads were covered in the exquisite joy of a wetness, Maddie and I ran back out… running fast, still holding hands and laughing and yelling and running with delight that has no words.  Running.  Back to our towels and warm clothes and hugs from everyone else who probably never named ocean as they were playing, too.  And here’s a shout-out to Jake for his teeth-chattering are you kidding, little Buddy, you did it!!


When I chose GERMAN SHEPHERD as one of my January poems to highlight in my 365 Days of Literacy for Kids, I hadn’t done the 2011 Plunge yet.  I just loved the purity and playfulness and magic and wordlessness of the moment captured by poet Myra Cohn Livingston.  I thought children and parents would love the magic, too.  Then I lived it.  And I lived it with my beautiful granddaughter.  Now there’s a moment when literature and life combined!

About Audrey

Audrey McClelland has been a digital influencer since 2005. She’s a mom of 5 and shares tips on her three favorite things: parenting, fashion and beauty. She’s also a Contemporary Romance Author.

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3 Comments

  1. 1.7.11
    Nancy said:

    You guys are amazing and helping to raise amazing grandchildren.

  2. 1.7.11
    Kim said:

    Oh My, not sure I should have read this post while sitting here cold in my house at my computer. Wow, all of you are daring, amazing and full of life! Not sure I would have gone but pretty sure if I got there I would have taken the plunge. No doubt there was a whole lotta Hugging on the beach that day 😉

  3. 1.11.11

    This amazes me so much and I can see all your grandchildren hand in hand with you and Barry one day. How brave of them to do this!

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