by Dennis Augustine
Woke up from a nap at Michelle and Kyle’s and told Michelle I wanted a quick swim. She laughed—“Are you shore, Dad? The pool’s ice cold!”
We stepped outside to find obstacle #1: a pool covered in leaves. I was ready to bow out, but Kyle—ever the cold plunge pro—grabbed the net and went to work. Challenge accepted. Temp check: 61°F.
I dove in first, let out a scream worthy of a thriller, and tried to keep my dignity. Kyle followed—forty years younger and just as brave.
By the time he got out, I’d adjusted. Ten minutes later I yelled, “First one out loses!” (There were witnesses.)
Cold shock. Big laughs. Great bonding. And yes—61° is the perfect plunge for fall.
Side note: The last time Kyle and I dove into water together was Namalu Bay in Kapalua, Maui, during a family vacation on December 9, 2016.
