Angel On The River

I don't know if I actually believe in Guardian Angels, but I do know that sometimes things happen that defy explanation.  For example, a series of dreams that reunites me with old friends, family, or a granddaughter that I was unaware of.  Events that only my closest friends and I share because I don't want to sound like a lunatic.  Basically, I don't know if I believe in Angels, ghosts, or demons but I  have experienced things that defy explanation so I don't try to understand them. I just accept that there are some things that are beyond my understanding.

 A good friend of mine said that she missed kayaking with me and wanted to get out on a river. I told her that I haven't been paddling regularly so I didn't think a strenuous trip would be advisable until I tone up my paddle muscles again.  We agreed to go down a mild stretch of the river.   Once we were on the water, I was glad that we were navigating a milder current because I noticed that I had to work harder than I did a year ago.

As I paddled the current I remembered the only time that I came close to getting hurt. Over a year ago, my friends and I were on the river in an area that is somewhere between a class II and class III.  I was not giving the current my full attention and got caught in a an eddy that was deep and swift. Although I was able to successfully paddle out of the eddy I was pulled into some large rocks which were sticking out of the water. My kayak became wedged and began to fill with water so I did a quick exit.  The water was only waist high but the current was very swift.  My companions went to the shore and threw a tow line to tie around the kayak and tow it to shore.  As they dislodged the kayak  the current suddenly shifted and pulled me off of my feet. I was swept under the kayak and found myself being swept downstream toward a section with stronger current and very large rocks.  After the initial shock of being submerged, my safety training kicked in. I knew I had to stop being pulled downstream because the swift current and rocks ahead were very dangerous.  Head up, toes pointed, grab rock, on knees, on my feet,  and seconds later I was on shore again walking upstream to my friends who were frantically calling my name.

On this kayak trip  I saw an eddy  with a couple of large rocks sticking out of the water. My heart was in my stomach as I tried to navigate around them but the current was strong.  As I felt my kayak being sucked sideways  into the rocks, the memory of that previous experience surfaced and I did the worst thing possible... I froze. As my kayak began to turn sideways,  I heard a firm voice in my head say  "Either you control that kayak or the current will control you."  I began to paddle and I heard that voice  reminding me "Use your hips. Don't fight the current, just paddle faster than the water." So, I used my hips, put my paddle deep in the water, and paddled as hard as I could. "Dig in and.get control"  Instead of focusing on my fear I focused on that voice. As I felt memories of my training surface I began to regain control and I placed my paddle deep in the water, braced, and used my hips to adjust the kayak. I felt the kayak right itself  ...in my head I heard that voice say "Paddle!! Paddle!!" ....so I  paddled hard.  I used my hips to turn... paddle.. turn,....paddle.... turn again... paddle hard...and then I was out of the eddy and away from the rocks. 

Another kayaker had held back  to make certain that I made it through and told me, "That was a great recovery! I got it on video.  May I put it on  U Tube?"  I replied with a laugh that I was glad my hat and sunglasses were hiding my face. 

My new kayak friend and I paddled together downstream.  On the slower moving parts of the river we talked and shared some stories. At one point we passed a large group of people in canoes and rafts floating near the shore with balloons.  My new friend paddled over to the group and asked if they are celebrating a birthday. 

One lady said,  No, this the anniversary of the day her son died on the river.  Exactly one year to the day. They think he got stuck in some rocks back there, and she pointed toward the area I had just come from,  but they found his body down by the bridge.  This group was floating in his memory and when they reach the bridge  they will release their  balloons .

I remembered that very distinct voice in my head clearly guiding me when I was being pushed into those rocks and I can't help but wonder......