Life in the Bristolwood

I realize that I am short.  It seems like most nine-year-olds are at least as tall as I am. But, I can live with that.  It is just the way it is. However…..

This summer, Mark wanted to buy helmets for the family so we can work with the kids on the small ATV, teaching them safety, how to cross over a log, how to go up a hill…all that “stuff”.

We went to a local helmet shop and tried on helmets. The kids found ones that fit their heads almost immediately.  The helmets were moderately priced, too.  Great.  Then it came time to find one for me.

The general rule for helmet wearing is that it must fit tightly to one’s head with no “slop”…IE, the helmet should not be able to lift up and roll left and right on your head. Well, the style helmet that Michelle could wear in an extra-small was too big on my head. As the girl worked with me, she took me back into the store and (finally….after trying on about 6 or 7 different styles) found one that stayed on my head properly. Bottom line is, it was about $30 more than the helmets the kids picked out. Ugh.  We still need to purchase helmets…

So, now we got these terrific portable kayaks. They are more fun than anything on a hot summer  day! There is always a breeze on the lake and it is just such good exercise and fun, paddling!

State law requires boaters to wear a life vest and in all honesty, I think it is a terrific idea. Especially when paddling with youngsters or teens. You never know if you might get dunked, even though the stability of our little inflatables is fantastic. There is always a “chance”….

We purchased some vests for Michelle and me at a sporting goods store. We were told that if we wore them, they were no longer returnable. Hmm….and how can one assess how the vest will work if it isn’t “tried”? 

The kids paddled two or three times more than I have and their vests worked great.  When we went out the other day, as I was paddling about, the vest I was wearing (non-returnable) worked its way up my body as I paddled. I had to keep stopping and pulling the thing down!  As we  paddled, the vest would ride up my torso, eventually rising up above my shoulders and acting as muffling noise-cancelling earmuffs! Yeah, funny….Mark didn’t think it was funny, though, as when I came back, he could pull the vest on my shoulders right over my head! And, that vest was cinched on so tightly, I could not have wiithstood any more pressure!

When we got home, Mark called the manufacturer of the vest. They told him NOT to have me wear it again, and that we should return it to the store. Mark told them the store policy and the person there said it MUST be returned. It is dangerous to wear a vest that doesn’t fit properly.  So, last evening, I took it back.

As we were looking around at a wholesale club later, Mark spotted some life vests. We went over and checked them out….They are made for water-skiing and have a similar shape as the paddling vests. These, though, are made of neoprene. Mark told me to slip one on. I did. The thing didn’t move on my body.  I even sat on the floor and made paddling movements. It stayed right where it should! So, I now am sporting a pretty aquamarine vest with white stars on it. Quite the diversion from the nylon paddling vests. Since it is a ski vest, it has large armholes for free movement….that is important. So, I cannot wait to try it out!

 So, whaddayouthink? Misfit? Or, just plain UNfit?