Bouche Family Christmas 2007
Holiday traditions, every family has them.
When I was growing up, my brother and I starred in the church Christmas play as a shepherd and an angel- that picture is still proudly displayed in Mom and Dad’s home. We fought over who got to move the stuffed mouse to the next pocket in one of those Christmas countdown calendars. Every year we would search for the perfect tree to place in the corner, that is until we got the fake one… Regardless, it is still decorated with the same homemade decorations from Grandma, undoubtedly has the same angel adorning the top since I was an infant and the debate about colored or clear lights continues. Dad probably still has his “orbs” lit up in the kitchen window, an antique store find that he claims double as Valentine’s decorations- the result being their 3-month prolonged life.
The wake up time on Christmas morning has become later and later with age but the tradition remains. We all grab some Christmas Kringle from the kitchen, find our place in the living room and pass out the gifts. Taking turns, we open our presents and proudly display them with the appropriate amount of ooos and ahhs. The dog always gets some kind of bone and then we stick all the bows from the presents on his head. Poor dog.
After cleaning up, we head to Grandma Bouche’s to continue the revelry. We’ve transitioned from a full, sit-down Christmas meal to an all-you-can-eat hors d’orves buffet. We graze as we chat and catch up with family, we watch Grandma open the same assortment of wines from Wollersheim and play nail-biting games of air hockey down in the basement. Just watch your head on the pipes…
And to think, these are just a few of my family’s traditions; there are more, many more…like bubble lights, how did I forget bubble lights?
Being on the Race has inevitably put a kink in these traditions. As I write this on Christmas morning, I’m sitting outside my apartment in shorts and a sweatshirt. The sun was up at 5 am and I have to put on sunscreen before I go to Hillsong church with some kids from the township. Hailing from Wisconsin, I’m used to piling on the layers of clothes and having to start the car early so it can warm up.
Though I’m not used to the tropical Christmas, I have been relieved to bypass the Black Friday, Day-Before-Christmas, Day-After-Christmas and New Year’s sales advertisements. There hasn’t been the typical build-up to this all-important day and I kinda like it. A lot less stress, a lot more time to focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas.
So, since this year is about changing the norm, I changed it. Instead of the typical Christmas Eve that includes traveling and the candlelight church service, I went cage diving with great white sharks.
You read correctly. I went swimming with sharks. Merry Christmas, right?
Nicole and I before the adventure began.
Cage diving is essentially the safest possible way to view great white sharks in their natural habitat without injury. Though there is always risk involved, it is relatively safe and the company we dove with has a good reputation.
Essentially, you squeeze yourself into a wet suit, strap on a pair of giant goggles and hop into the cage that is attached to the boat. The head shark master and his crew chum for sharks (meaning they throw nasty fish heads and other smashed up fish parts into the water you just got into) and give you commands when to dive.
“Shark coming right, coming right…and DOWN!”
Nothing too difficult. When head shark master Lance says to go down, you take a big breath of air and hold yourself under the water holding a designated bar. And then you try to keep your mouth shut as the largest, most ferocious sea animal swims within inches of your face and rattles the cage and all you want to do is scream. AWESOME!
When the shark has swam out of view or you can’t hold your breath any longer, you resurface and wait for the next command. On our fist dive, I felt like a bobber. Just as soon as I’d resurface, Lance would be hollering for us to go down for the next shark. Up down, up down. We were given a little guff for being Americans (Lance made us go first in the cage) but we’re convinced we got the best show.
Words can’t do justice to this experience.
Pictures can’t do justice to this experience.
Video can’t do justice to this experience.
But I tried. I hope this video gives you a glimpse of my Christmas Eve swimming with the sharks. Enjoy!
That's me in the middle- thumbs up!
Steven, Nicole and Nick made the dive with me.
