EXPERIENCE
Deam Lake Dip
BY JD DOTSON
FOR THE PAST FEW WINTERS, I have been
asked off and on by my friends Jenna and Kara to
join them and a small group for a winter dip in the
lake. Every Sunday from November through April
these two will trek to Deam Lake – and sometimes
Blue River – to take a dip in the frigid waters. My
answer has always been the same.: “I love you, but
that will never happen.”
I pride myself on being a man of my word, but I
had to go back on part of it. Before I did, I wondered
26 EXTOL : APRIL/MAY 2018
if I would still love them as much after jumping
into a lake in early March.
I despise being cold and much prefer the heat of
the summer. New Orleans in July, for instance, is the
best time to go in my opinion. I suffer through the
cold weather, wishing summer would last longer
every year. To say I was dreading telling the girls I
would go with them would be the understatement
of the year. But I said it, it was out there and I would
honor my word.
Before I would subject myself to this icy torture,
I had a million questions and got the basics about
where to meet and what to bring, which included a
swimsuit, bathrobe, towels, a toboggan and water
shoes. I would get the rest of my grilling out in the
car ride. I figured if I was more informed about
why on earth people would walk of their own free
will into a lake in winter, it might calm my nerves
about the whole thing.
On a chance meeting at a New Year’s Eve party in