My name is Joe Plumber. For quite awhile now I've been thinking about learning how to slalom waterski but I just don't have the time. The thought had processed into my head when we first bought the house on the beach and of course my wife loved the view of the lake from our patio room upstairs. Its a magnificent sight to see when the moon hits the waves just right, in the ghostly season of fall. I guess my wife just wanted the house for the gorgeous view, and the kids just wanted it to ride they're dirt bikes along the beach during the summer, and I just wanted it because of the lake. As soon as I had realized that, I went and bought some water skis.
It never really occurred to me that water skiing could be quite dangerous. I mean after all, I had never learned to ski and actually trying to learn had scared me since I was kid. Now I'm a lot older and I feel more adventurous towards life. So just the other day, I bought a pair of water skis at the local surf shop. I took my son Adrienne with me and I think he might have been a little interested in trying them out himself, so we did just that.
When we got home I got out my motor boat, I had purchased a few months prior. I was never able to use it because I bought it in the middle of fall of last year and it was too cold to take out on the water. Now free at last at the beginning of spring, I felt free enough to start up my motor boat I hardly even used. This was the day I had been looking forward to for several months now, and my son Adrienne was going to enjoy it with me. The air was warm and the wind was just right to go water skiing. I said to myself "what a perfect day to go water skiing!"
We loaded the port with some safety equipment. I tied the rope on as my son got the motor running and WHAM! I was pulled out into the water before I could even put my skis on. I said "STOP! STOP THE BOAT!" screaming hysterically. Somewhere deep down I knew I proved my childhood fear of skiing to be true. Buried so deep at the bottom of my psyche, I just now let it up to the top. Was I going to face it or back down from this adventurous fun I had been looking forward to for quite awhile now? The answer was in my son's laughter when he had brought the boat back to shore. Laughing so hard at his old man, it just made me say to myself: "Oh yeah? You think thats funny don't you?" I vowed to never look like a coward in front of my own kid since the day he was born, and at that moment was the moment to prove it.
I told my son that we would try again. He asked me if I was sure, since I almost died earlier. I replied that I was sure and asked him to tie the rope to the boat again. This time, I put on my skis properly before I took a hold of the rope. Adrienne started the motor. There I was, with my slalom water skiing equipment fastening the helmet. I knew I was ready, as waves hit the water in the militant fashion. I asked myself to give it all I have, in order to compensate for the remaining fear that I had. I knew this was my destiny.
When I was in the water about half way, the fear subsided. I felt free and forgot all my worries. At that moment, I knew I was in love with water skiing. It was a thrill to ride, as I screamed as loudly as I could "I am the king of the lake, that's right, king of the lake". I was also happy to see my son turn around and see that I was no longer scared. My wife watched me from the shore smiling. Although I knew she couldn't hear me, I yelled for her to come and try it. I felt alive for the first time in a long time.
My son wanted to take a turn skiing, since I seemed to be having so much fun. We decided to take turns. I saw joy in his eyes and felt closer to him than ever before. Since that time, I always see a part of myself in my son. It is now a lot easier to face my fears and I know that this is a very special bond.
In retrospect, I understand my reasons for being scared. If I showed my fear to my son, he would be afraid to try in life. My point is that one should never be scared to try. It is not about fear, but rather about overcoming the fear of slalom water skiing. I learned how to face my fears and who knows, I might do it again tomorrow.