Freezing with Flacco

I usually don't heed messages plastered across the  back end of a bus, but this transit derriere was sporting a dewy, dreamy image of Joe Flacco.  Intrigued, I chased those commuters for three blocks down Cathedral in order to learn more at the next stop.  (Note to ad agency -- this campaign works.)

The mobile billboard was a plug for the Annual Polar Bear Plunge.  If the picture had shown more than Joe's face, it would have revealed a few goosebumps.  For it wasn't the Caribbean dripping off him , it was the Chesapeake -- in January.  At least they snapped the shot before his lips turned the color of his eyes.

The Polar Bear Plunge is for the big (certainly not faint) of heart.  It has become a spirited celebration of  generous Marylanders who support the mission of the Special Olympics.  Begun by Maryland State Troopers 13 years ago, the Plunge has raised millions in pledges by those who consider it a  privilege to jump in the Bay every winter.  Last year, more than 11,000 --including Joe Flacco and Governor Martin O'Malley, took the plunge.

Truly inspired, I pitched the leader of the Merry Marketeers on the idea of having Team Terry participate this year as a character building exercise, like the Sea Trials midshipmen do Plebe year.  The reception was even chillier than the beach at Sandy Point.  We could do our team building in a visit to Wisp and maybe a tube slide on the slopes, I was told, but frolicking in the slushy surf was out.

Since Tweety has just returned from the DL, even the prospect of sharing a warming tent with Joe Cool is not going to lure her into this lemming-like exercise. 

Thus resigned to spending yet another year on the sidelines, I still want to use the opportunity to showcase what a fine facility Sandy Point State Park is.  You might not consider the Polar Bear Plunge to be a legitimate sporting venture, but it does make great use of one of the State's natural gems.

As mentioned earlier in the year, Sandy Point is also the staging area for the annual Great Chesapeake Swim, a challenging 4.4 mile open water race to the Eastern Shore.  Sandy Point has also hosted popular maritime festivals, including the one welcoming the Whitbread 'Round the World sailors.

So I guess if I want to freeze with Flacco, I'm going to have to do it in Foxborough.  Anyone who thinks Joe is going to flinch in the intemperate climes of New England needs to check out the back of the bus.