An Unexpected Boat Ride

After a warm and sunny summer day today, I convinced E to take the canoe out for a spin in the large reservoir behind our house when I got home from work. We quickly changed, sunscreened up and trooped down to the basement to grab our honking beast of canoe (an excellent Craigslist find). I grabbed one life vest for me and the only dog life vest that we had bought pre-Sam. Since Sam had never been out on the water before, we thought it would be best to put it on him since we knew Argon can swim.

Argon modeling the life preserving apparatus.

We got in the water okay and paddled around peacefully for several minutes. I sat in front and finally got the hang of paddling so as 1. not to annoy E and 2. not steer us in circles (it's an art!). The following conversation took place.

E - "What's that thing over there?" Gesturing to what looked like a piece of floating cardboard.

Me - "Oh I don't know."  

Me, thinking -  lalalala.

We lazily paddle around it in peaceful silence.

SPLASH!

I screamed and whipped my head around and saw Sam had leapt overboard and was swimming out into the great beyond! He then shot us a mildly startled look that seemed to say, "What? You think this is wrong?"

Eric shouted "Sam!" and started laughing. Thankfully the life vest kept him afloat as we frantically paddled toward him. He had his leash floating beside him in the water (thank goodness!) and did not seem troubled at all as I slowly pulled him over and then lifted him back into the boat using a combination of superhuman mom-adrenaline and the handy little handle on the top of the vest. Nevermind that the water deflected probably 30 or so percent of Sam's meager 20 pounds. I saved my dog's life. Like a boss.

After having a good laugh in shock/relief, we kept going after securely fastening his leash around the center of the boat and continued the journey without incident. When we finally got off the canoe, E wandered a little too close to where the pier had sank into the lake and promptly slipped on the wet wood and nearly fell into the water.

I did not save him, but I did laugh. He came up laughing too.

I love summer.