This story is at once terrifying and inspiring.
The Washington Post has the story of Lauren Conner, a 32-year-old woman who went for a casual evening boat ride with some friends off the Eastern Shore. But when the speeding boat smacked into a wake, Conner was jolted off board. And even though she was right nearby, the wind and the growing darkness made it so her friends weren’t able to find her.
The rest of the night was basically a nightmare: Conner swam toward a buoy, but then found that it was too slippery to cling to; she sang herself the “just keep swimming” song from Finding Nemo; she swam for hours, hoping she’d make it to shore. It turns out that Conner is a survivor in more ways than one–but you should read the whole story to find out how. And remember to wear your lifejacket when you go out for a boat ride.
This woman is remarkable! She certainly proves that survival is largly a mental choice. Oh, I know; some posts in the Post tried to downplay this (it’s just the Bay) or judge her for cocktail-ing – but as far as I’m concerned, she is incredibly tough minded. To go from enjoying a fun sunset cruise to a life and death physical and mental challenge in one swift slip is pretty damn impressive! So go ahead and throw stones you folks in glass houses – Conner is a Viking.
Wow. Thanks for posting this, Rachel.