by Roby Holland, National Sales Manager
During the summer, I like to go to a pool or to the ocean for a dip with my family when the heat is too much, or after a long day working in the yard. I was taught a long time ago to always have a healthy respect for Mother Nature and more importantly , water. It is the great equalizer, no matter how big or tough you are, water could always defeat you. During my time in and around the water I have personally had several close calls with drowning. Three close calls stick out in my memory. My first happen at a friend’s house in the winter. I wanted to grab a piece of ice from the pool that had no top on it. I lost my balance and fell into the pool crashing through the ice. I was able to make it to back to the side of the pool, only to be pulled out to safety by one angry father and Uncle. Second time occurred on vacation with my cousins in the surf when I was just eight. We were in a line holding hands when a large wave broke my grip, sent me tumbling int0 the wash and pulled me back in to the grasp of another wave. My savior this time was a stranger who was on the beach and saw me tumbling around in the surf. My third incident, which still haunts me today, was a sailing accident. It was my first time using a harness on a fast and unstable boat. The wind cut out and the boat turtled (flipped entirely upside-down). The harness that I was attached to pulled me under and since I was not familiar with the harness system I could not unhook myself. Under that water I struggled to get free till I began to run out of breath. I was able to get myself into the cockpit of the boat which had a pocket of air and was able to grab a breath, which saved my life. There are many other times I have been in the water in a bad situation only to get out because I knew how to swim and respected the water. The other day I watched my son swim for the very first time and I could not have been prouder. Mind you, we are not talking about doing laps, he is only two. He was swimming under the supervision of an ISR instructor. This is a swimming class that teaches babies, toddlers and other children how to float and swim. My family spends a lot of time near the water and the possibility of our son drowning is our biggest fear. This summer, my wife and I wanted our son to take swimming classes, and while searching on the Internet we came across this class. This class was different; not only do they teach your kids how to swim, but they teach them how to swim fully clothed! If you have ever tried to swim fully clothed you know how hard it is. All those wet clothes weigh you down and tires you out, making it difficult, if not impossible, to swim. Our concern is not when our son is in the water; it is when he is around the water and accidentally falls into the water when my wife and I are not around. We wanted to make sure he was prepared if he fell into the water without being ready. When I fell into the icy pool, it was not summer time and I was not planning to go for a swim in a large down jacket and snow mobile boots. We all know accidents happen and the more prepared we make ourselves, the better we react to these situations. I encourage all parents to look into these classes, or some similar type of swimming class and prepare your child for the water. It is the best investment you will ever make!
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Monday, August 11, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter/Happy Family Day
Whether you are religious or not, or believe this to be a holiday or not, I hope that you see it as a day to spend time with your family and close friends. I'm not overly religious so to me, Easter is about slowing down and taking time to be with family and close friends.
So, what did I do today? Started my day on the treadmill talking with my cousin. I mentioned him last week when I was talking about MS Awareness Week. He's lived with Multiple Sclerosis for 30 years now. It's a terrible disease and he's my inspiration each and every day. We were chatting about what we were doing today - each going to different family members houses for dinner, so we won't see each other. And, we were talking about our latest family venture...hence the treadmill.
After last week's post my cousin and I decided that we would sign up for the MS Walk in our area to be held on April 12. Because of a few nasty things going on with his MS right now, he isn't able to walk the 5 miles so he signed up as a volunteer and fundraiser. He'll drive the pick up car for any participant who can't make the 5 miles (hopefully it won't be me!). I'll be walking, but haven't walked too far this winter - I've done a good job at hibernating and storing food like a bear. So, on the treadmill today and starting a diet tomorrow (bluck). I intend to lose weight this spring while getting in shape to walk the walk (and by the numbers on the scale the diet and exercise will need to go on long after the walk...oy!)
We've recruited others, too. My cousin's two brothers and his sister are going to join us. His sister's fiance. His wife and daughter are going to walk. And, my mother is going to walk with us (and will probably have to wait for all of us to catch up). We have another member or two who will probably join along the way, too. It's quite a team of walking Toccis! Here's my walk page where you can see my cousin and link to our family page and see the whole gang.
We are all serious about this because we are all touched by this disease each day because we are all so close and have watched my cousin's struggles (and triumphs!) throughout the years. For me, I've also got two other people who are near and dear to me who live with this every single day. They each amaze me to no end. They are truly remarkable people.
So, on this day meant for family and friends, our family is bonding together for a common goal and common good for all 400,000 Americans living with this disease (and those who are touched by it through them). I think that's the true spirit of the day anyway no matter what religion.
I wish you all a wonderful day to be with your family, your friends and maybe even your bike.
Happy Family Day!
So, what did I do today? Started my day on the treadmill talking with my cousin. I mentioned him last week when I was talking about MS Awareness Week. He's lived with Multiple Sclerosis for 30 years now. It's a terrible disease and he's my inspiration each and every day. We were chatting about what we were doing today - each going to different family members houses for dinner, so we won't see each other. And, we were talking about our latest family venture...hence the treadmill.
After last week's post my cousin and I decided that we would sign up for the MS Walk in our area to be held on April 12. Because of a few nasty things going on with his MS right now, he isn't able to walk the 5 miles so he signed up as a volunteer and fundraiser. He'll drive the pick up car for any participant who can't make the 5 miles (hopefully it won't be me!). I'll be walking, but haven't walked too far this winter - I've done a good job at hibernating and storing food like a bear. So, on the treadmill today and starting a diet tomorrow (bluck). I intend to lose weight this spring while getting in shape to walk the walk (and by the numbers on the scale the diet and exercise will need to go on long after the walk...oy!)
We've recruited others, too. My cousin's two brothers and his sister are going to join us. His sister's fiance. His wife and daughter are going to walk. And, my mother is going to walk with us (and will probably have to wait for all of us to catch up). We have another member or two who will probably join along the way, too. It's quite a team of walking Toccis! Here's my walk page where you can see my cousin and link to our family page and see the whole gang.
We are all serious about this because we are all touched by this disease each day because we are all so close and have watched my cousin's struggles (and triumphs!) throughout the years. For me, I've also got two other people who are near and dear to me who live with this every single day. They each amaze me to no end. They are truly remarkable people.
So, on this day meant for family and friends, our family is bonding together for a common goal and common good for all 400,000 Americans living with this disease (and those who are touched by it through them). I think that's the true spirit of the day anyway no matter what religion.
I wish you all a wonderful day to be with your family, your friends and maybe even your bike.
Happy Family Day!
Friday, January 18, 2008
A Winter Ride
by Roby Holland, National Sales Manager
WOW, how the weather changes in New England! Today is just down right nasty. It was just right last Saturday, a beautiful forty degree day, that I was on my bike for an afternoon ride.
The problem with winter days like this is that they are very sporadic and you are not always prepared to take advantage of them. I think it took me just as long to find my gear as it took for the entire ride.
It was one of those rides where the people in the cars look at you as if you are a crazy person riding tricycle in your birthday suite during a blizzard. You, on the other hand, have the feeling like "Come-on in the water is fine! You'd be surprised what it will do for your complexion, not to mention your dogs mid section."
The ride was appox. 21 miles, and took me on my local tour of the beach and points of interest in Duxbury. The bay was quiet and void of any birds working the fish, a sight which I long for and await its triumphant return!
Back to the ride. This ride was one part introspective, one part reflection one part stress buster, and one reminiscing past rides . I bring up the four parts of my ride because I think many of us think about similar things during our times on our bikes at one time or another. The most enjoyable part of the ride for me was when I let go of the bars to stretch and almost crashed into a mailbox.
You might be asking yourself why that was the high light of my ride? This brought me back to the day that my brother and I were riding our bikes around the neighborhood with some buddies. For the last few days my brother had been trying to ride his bike "no handed" and it just was not happening. One of our buddies suggested to him that he ride faster to help steady the bike. Well, it helped alright and when my brother proudly turned his head and yelled to me "Hey Roby, check this out" he was promptly removed from his bike by one of our neighbor's extending mailboxes. All of us fell off our bikes in that debilitating laughter we all had as kids when one of your friends shows off and get absolutely abused for it. After a good chuckle to myself, I began to think of other times that my brother and I shared similar moments in our life and when that next moment would be.
The point of this rant is to remind us of the fun times we have had with friends and families on our bikes, skateboards, roller-blades or whatever vehicle brought you together and made you laugh together. More importantly not to forget these good times and fond memories and that they can still be had everyday!
Happy New Year
WOW, how the weather changes in New England! Today is just down right nasty. It was just right last Saturday, a beautiful forty degree day, that I was on my bike for an afternoon ride.
The problem with winter days like this is that they are very sporadic and you are not always prepared to take advantage of them. I think it took me just as long to find my gear as it took for the entire ride.
It was one of those rides where the people in the cars look at you as if you are a crazy person riding tricycle in your birthday suite during a blizzard. You, on the other hand, have the feeling like "Come-on in the water is fine! You'd be surprised what it will do for your complexion, not to mention your dogs mid section."
The ride was appox. 21 miles, and took me on my local tour of the beach and points of interest in Duxbury. The bay was quiet and void of any birds working the fish, a sight which I long for and await its triumphant return!
Back to the ride. This ride was one part introspective, one part reflection one part stress buster, and one reminiscing past rides . I bring up the four parts of my ride because I think many of us think about similar things during our times on our bikes at one time or another. The most enjoyable part of the ride for me was when I let go of the bars to stretch and almost crashed into a mailbox.
You might be asking yourself why that was the high light of my ride? This brought me back to the day that my brother and I were riding our bikes around the neighborhood with some buddies. For the last few days my brother had been trying to ride his bike "no handed" and it just was not happening. One of our buddies suggested to him that he ride faster to help steady the bike. Well, it helped alright and when my brother proudly turned his head and yelled to me "Hey Roby, check this out" he was promptly removed from his bike by one of our neighbor's extending mailboxes. All of us fell off our bikes in that debilitating laughter we all had as kids when one of your friends shows off and get absolutely abused for it. After a good chuckle to myself, I began to think of other times that my brother and I shared similar moments in our life and when that next moment would be.
The point of this rant is to remind us of the fun times we have had with friends and families on our bikes, skateboards, roller-blades or whatever vehicle brought you together and made you laugh together. More importantly not to forget these good times and fond memories and that they can still be had everyday!
Happy New Year
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
