Kip’s Comments - September 24, 2023

On This Day

On this day 32-years ago our family lost a most interesting fellow - my step-dad Ray. For a long time I had encouraged him to go canoeing with me, always being told if he was going to be on the water it would be in a boat with a motor. On September 24, 1991 Ray agreed to go canoeing with me after lunch. We loaded fishing tackle in my aluminum canoe and carried it down to the river, below the bridge on “Old Highway 63,” on the Bremer-Chickasaw county line. There Ray spoke his last words… “Oh Kip, I am so dizzy.” Ray then slumped forward into the canoe in full cardiac arrest.

Through EMS I had performed CPR before, but this was the first time on a family member, under a bridge, all alone. After what seemed like eternity a car came down the road. I stopped CPR and flagged down the driver to ask for help. His response… “I don’t know how…” That was OK - the driver then went for help. But help arrived too late and I don’t know that it would have made an difference.

Ray

The rest of the day… the week… was a blur. Having to tell my mother and take her to the hospital - all while dragging my canoe around on a trailer behind the car - is still fresh in my mind.

Many years passed before I could be on the water at that location - the memories were too raw. I felt like a failure - I shouldn’t have pushed so hard to go canoeing, we should have used a boat, my CPR wasn’t good enough.

Eventually I grew to accept that what happened happened - canoeing, CPR, or not. I also accepted that I was blessed to have been with him at his final moment so I knew he received immediate CPR to the best of my ability. I did not wonder what may or may not have been done.

For reasons unknown to me that afternoon has been coming back to me this year. I cannot explain it, but it has. Maybe there is a reason this emotional wound is so raw. I just cannot explain it.

Church Sign

Today I was asked to share my faith story and outdoor/nature photography at two churches. As I prepared for the presentations, the experiences and memories of life were real. So too was the fact that I have been blessed far beyond what I deserve. No, not all parts of life are perfect, but much of life is quite good and for that I am thankful. And, the difficult (and good) times have made me the person I am today - stronger and more willing to face challenges and realities.

My thanks to the churches for the invitations. I sincerely enjoyed our time together.

And, as I mentioned during my programs - do not follow me since I stop for interesting things. For example - before I made it home from the churches I spotted this stunning natural arrangement of autumn sumac. It was too pretty to not photograph! Nobody was behind me so I stopped and shot pictures!

Autumn Sumac - Image 846427