The Hesitation of Our Discontent
Today’s New York Times features an essay by an Ann Arbor man who liked to judge his girlfriends by their enthusiasm for swimming in a freezing cold, “now highly valued lake up north [in Michigan]” that he does not name (perhaps concerned that the spot will be overrun by those seeking to evaluate a potential mate’s cold endurance.) “I have photos of these exes, arms folded across their bathing suits, arms goose-pimpled, brows furrowed, glaring back at the camera; at me,” he writes, adding that the relationships often ended “once I’d rolled my eyes at their hesitation.”
“[P]erhaps that’s the true antonym for summer: not winter, but hesitation,” he continues. In that case, we think it’s about time for some more hesitation weather.
I’m sorry, should I cue “Code Blue” by TSOL, or just imitate Jamie Gumm aka Jame Gumm from Silence of the Lambs?
posted by Real Big on August 5th, 2005 at 11:49 amI had to look up both of those references. So, so disturbing.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on August 5th, 2005 at 12:19 pmI don’t think anyone can argue with the fact that forcing a date into freezing cold water and then taking her picture is about a half-step away from keeping a date hostage in a giant pit and demanding that [it] put the lotion in the basket.
posted by Real Big on August 5th, 2005 at 1:09 pmWhy was this man’s distain for WOTH (Women Opposed To Hypothermia) considered Op-Ed worthy?
posted by Anna on August 5th, 2005 at 1:22 pmFunny, I had a similar experience last weekend while camping up at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area on Lake Michigan. It was f-ing freezing. But you’ve gotta go in. And after some prodding I got my female companion to join me.
Maybe I’m just a sentimental Michigander, but I rather liked that piece. Sorta Garrision Keillor-y.
There goes all my cred.
posted by Brandon on August 5th, 2005 at 1:54 pmperhaps you’d like some lotion and a basket, then?
posted by Real Big on August 5th, 2005 at 1:55 pmWhoa, Brandon… I was camping in Nordhouse last weekend too. If you saw a couple lunatics canoeing on the lake, one of them was me. And yeah, the lake was damn cold so I didn’t do much more than wade in up to my waist.
posted by Dave on August 5th, 2005 at 1:59 pmI thought his essay was OK too, but then again, I understand his connection to the lakes…I’ll take a swim in Lake Superior and have been swimming in Lake Michigan when there was still ice floating in it (April). Granted, it was a very short swim
As for the author, I have seen references to him around online lately…he was featured on a music blog I visit called Large Hearted Boy. He made a playlist for his novel (which I haven’t read).
posted by OFWinsurgent on August 5th, 2005 at 2:47 pmFunny, this issue is big up here in Marquette. Lake Superior is cold, no doubt, but it’s either melt in the 90-degree-plus-humidity weather or plunge in. After a few minutes, you’re comfortably numb. After that, all hesitation is banished…
posted by Meg on August 5th, 2005 at 3:06 pmI had to do lifeguard training one summer, and our diving section was called off because of the very real possibilty that we’d get hypothermia in the lake. So I never did get diving training, but I was a certified lifeguard anyhow. Go figure. We went swimming in it anyhow.
Agh, all this Michigan-nostalgia-ness. I swore off up north after many a bad family trip, and I actually want to go back now. Then again, I’ll probably see one to many tourists and flee back to the “city” life.
posted by Jen on August 7th, 2005 at 12:18 am