My latest adventure was last night boating with the singles branch. I had never really been boating before, meaning I have been on a boat, but not riding behind one on a tube, so I was SUPER excited. I got there and almost immediately a friend and I put on life jackets, hopped on a tube, and held on for dear life. I soon discovered that it was harder to stay on the tube on the 'calm looking' water (not going with the boat) than the water trailing the boat. One time Jamie and I caught some serious air, but we held on. Sadly, the next time around, she didn't make it and fell off. The second go, I almost fell off, but I hung on and she bailed again. I felt as if I was a bad friend for not helping her :(
So the REAL challenge came when another friend of mine and I were behind our branch president's boat. He issued a challenge over the pulpit last Sunday basically saying that he could take us all out. I had already survived 2 wipe outs, and I wanted to go for the big league. Cassie and I had a bigger tube and we were behind a faster boat.
He started out slow to get us into the deeper water, then gunned it and we flipped around gliding (for lack of a better word; it wasn't smooth) across the water. This happened a few more times and then waves from other boats started interfering. The battle began. Cassie and I both made it over a few, but there was just the one that caught us off guard and Cassie bailed. Since Cassie weighed more than me (I'm just really small) I guess it offset the balance on the tube and I remember being ok for about five seconds, then her side of the tube flipped and I was underwater, still holding on until I thought "Hmm.... maybe I should let go." And I do remember thinking that. I was not going to be easily defeated.
I came up from under the water and I swear I have never been so dizzy in my life. In a very familiar place, I could not tell where at all I was The side of my head tingled and my ear hurt. I couldn't hear anything coming from the right side of my head. My depth perception was off. Weirdest feeling ever. President came over and asked what was wrong. Apparently I didn't look right. He had me move my neck around to make sure nothing like that was broken. I must have hit the side of my head on the water. When something like that happens, I'm not thinking about what position my body is in every millisecond.
Anyway, to make a long story shorter, my leaders took me to urgent care and I have nearly no right ear drum. The doctor isn't sure if it's gone or folded or shoved deeper into my ear. She can't even see the little bones. I get to see a specialist and have an ear patch. I'll be ok, and I have another cool story to add to my life!
