[Kenna]

Pure happiness... THRILLING, EXCITING, HEART FLUTTERING HAPPINESS... was/is conquering fears of deep, dark water while taking my very first, solo kayak ride on a huge lake with choppy water and learning to navigate and turn thru fast currents that tried to sweep me way out into the wrong side of the lake. ..I was so thrilled and happy I did it all by myself without a single lesson or anyone to help...and how intensely happy it made me to face and overcome my fears of getting dumped in dark water. ...at first I was terrified, but it was my determination and stubborn will that made that quickly turn to thrilling excitement and happiness!

For over an hour (in a rented kayak) I navigated around obstacles such as an ancient cement spillway platform, buoys, old submerged tree stumps left from when they made the lake, tall metal poles used as markers where the swimming beach drops off and (close to shore) a tangle of lilly pads. ...I used the buoys to learn how to turn and weave between them...then I turned around and learned how to fight upstream against the current. ....after ,that, I skimmed near shore and got to quietly sneak up on a family of Killdeer birds as the babies were learning to leave their nest. Ohhhh boy did their momma scold me.

Everything about my adventure made me sooooo happy!! This is such a huge accomplishment for me on so many levels!!