THE GREAT PINK GLIDE

THE GREAT PINK GLIDE

THE GREAT PINK GLIDE

(by: Helen J. Strpczewski, October 9, 2020)

            In August of 2019, on a warm 92-degree Florida summer day, I received a phone call from my doctor’s office.  The call confirmed what my doctor already knew.  On that day, I became the one in eight women diagnosed with breast cancer. I began a trek down a path that I never planned to travel.  Yet, here I was with no u-turns in sight. 

            After enduring 3 surgeries, my big outings for over a year were some pretty aggressive chemo and radiation treatments.  I managed to survive all the poisons and burns and I can now say with pure glee that I am a survivor.

            During the time span of my personal challenges, a different health threat sprung up.  Covid-19 reared its devastating head upon the entire planet. This novel virus spread infection and death as its fiery dragon breath encompassed the globe.  Us mere and fragile humans took shelter in our homes and avoided any contact with our friends, families, and hugs. 

My immune system had been seriously compromised due to the chemo, so I needed to take great care around other humans during this global threat.  By using baby steps and following the guidance of my doctors, I began to wade back into my life.  I was ready to go out to play.

We all have people in our lives that constantly protect our well-being.  I have been blessed with many of these guardians.  With the help of my White Knight of a husband to my family, near and far, and my friends, old and new, I never faced my battle alone.  One of my dearest friends, Lynn, is a pretty perfect example of a protector.  We have known each other for decades and our sons (we both have two) have grown up together as great friends themselves.  Lynn and I are as close as sisters.  As a matter of fact, when one of us experiences any sort of pain or misfortune, the other deeply feels that event.  Lynn was well aware that I was chaffing at the bit to be able to take a break from the confines of our little condo.  Sitting out on the front patio was no longer cutting it for me, so she began searching Groupon sites for some fun “out of the house” stuff to do.

The big winner was a trip to Homosassa River for an airboat ride.  How much more “outside” can you get, right?  Lynn, her husband Greg, my man Leo and I decided that it would be best for us to stay overnight at their home in Hudson.  The plan was to leave the next morning from there for the one-hour drive to Homosassa, and that’s exactly what we did.

During the drive up to the river, I became curious about the word “Homosassa” and how it came into being.  It sounded like a Native American word and I was right.  According to Wikipedia, the word “Homosassa” comes from the Seminoles and means “river of fishes”.  The river flows into the Gulf of Mexico and because of that, it is a mixture of fresh and brackish waters in many areas.  We saw clear indications of this as we passed mangrove islands full of the lush greenery of the Sunshine State.  We also passed islands, which were home to many dead trees with their twiggy branches holding hands to comfort each other against the salty onslaught.

            Our host during this excursion was an outfit known as PT Airboat Adventures.  We had the pleasure of having the owner, Paul, as Captain of our little vessel.  If you’ve never been on an airboat, it’s a real treat.  These are flat-bottomed boats and can glide across the surface of the water and even swampy grassy areas.  They don’t have a traditional boat motor.  Instead, there are giant fans that propel the vessel.  These fans are pretty loud when fully revved up so we were given ear protectors.  Those muffled the noise so well that we learned to read lips that day.

            Airboats are an integral part of Florida’s hunting and fishing industries.  A man named Glenn Hammond Curtis registered the first boat of this kind in America in Florida in the early 1920s.  He was a pilot and aircraft engineer.  But, according to Wikipedia, airboats were invented in 1905 by none other than Alexander Graham Bell.  These boats were dubbed “The Ugly Duckling” and were used to test various types of airplane prop configurations.  The earliest practical use for airboats was by the British Army in their 1915 World War I Mesopotamian campaign.  Even though Florida was making use of them in the 20s, the general public didn’t latch onto them until well into the 1930s.

            The adventure that Captain Paul took us on was pretty amazing.  He is very knowledgeable of the river itself and boasts that he truly is from Florida since he was born and raised here.  Our trip began slowly through the river’s no wake zones. We glided past and drooled over some amazingly beautiful homes, some with two or three balconies and porches.  Paul cruised us around Monkey Island, which is a whole other story on its own!  This little island is actually a rocky outcropping and is home to approximately 6 spider monkeys.

            After leaving the no wake zones, our speed increased over the waters and grasses.  We were treated to a real side-to-side roller coaster ride.  We oooed and ahhhed our way from the river to the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico.  Suddenly, Paul slowed down our boat down to a crawl, then finally turned off the fan.  Out of nowhere came a small group of Florida manatees.  There had to be about 6 of them.  They swam all around our boat, as curious of us as we were of them.  As quickly as they appeared, these gentle sea cows drifted away from our boat, but not before we took many, MANY photos.  What a treat that was to see these gentle creatures up close and personal. 

            Also, during our trip along the Homosassa River, we were greeted by various wetlands birds.  Graceful Egrets floated around the mangrove islands while large black Cormorants escaped, on rapidly beating wings, the noise of our craft as we sped towards the end of our adventure.

            This outing was just a perfect day. The weather couldn’t have been nicer with clouds overhead which blocked the heat of the sun.  It was all fresh air, sunshine, wildlife and great friends sharing my great airboat adventure.  Gee, Lynn!  What’s up next?