Polar plunging

Hello, folks. I've left the Cape a week early to go home for a funeral. Weird; I imagine it'll be real once I see my cousins. For now, it's a long trip to somewhere sad. Indeed, the longest ride ever from the Cape to NYC (7 hours), and another 9 hours to get to NC, plus 3 more to get to SC.

On another note, I found out early this morning, threw my bag together, and proceeded to go to work (i.e. "fun day"), which involved 5 hours of playing games with my housemates and other AmeriCorps Cape Codders. So I suppose it was the best workday to go to 'cuz it was pretty lighthearted and truly, "fun." We concluded with a polar bear plunge on the Atlantic side of Dennis. OMFGOSH, so frigid. My body didn't actually feel anything at first, then it said, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I didn't know, so I looked at the other bodies and they were all diving into the water, so as my body struggled to remain upright, my mind threw it flat into the water. If I could levitate, it should've happened then, so I guess I can't. Ice water doesn't just burn the skin, it also totally disorients the mind. TOTALLY WORTH IT!! I think we got it all on tape, too!

I also discovered that I have only spent 3 days in a row off Cape since I arrived in September, and it really feels strange to be leaving now for 15 days. I am excited to return home...excited in the way you feel when you are compelled to go home to create a family web for renewed stability and comfort. But I am sad to leave Wellfleet. Those folks, in the three and half months that I've lived with them, are a family to me now. I wouldn't have guessed that would happen, really, I was quite skeptical. We're celebrating Christmas morning tomorrow, and I'm video-chatting with them for the first 15 minutes, since I won't be there. I'm like the parent away on a business trip calling home to the kids and saying warm things as they open up their presents.

Sorry for the bummer post. Hope all is well with you, my friends!