A father and son both drowned in Lake Lanier last week when the son took off to reach an island about 60 yards away. He was with his brother - the brother made it but he started to struggle and his father went out to get him. Neither has surfaced. These are the first drownings this season. I am stating these facts bluntly but make no mistake - I am very distressed about this.
We used to take our kids to the lake and even taught them to waterski when they were but 8 and 6 years old. To my shock after reading this, I am troubled at how many times they were left to fend for themselves after falling down, waiting for us to drive around and get them. I even had a few nightmares of them getting hit by other boats and was in a panic anytime one came in the near vicinity. I am so happy that we don't have that boat anymore!!!
But this is different - I think...maybe I am wrong.
This scares me so much - how easily this happened and how often it happens. I want to spout off the precautions everyone should take in the lake, warning that it is full of trees and debris that you can get stuck in, islands are farther than they look, boaters can't be trusted, etc. But I won't.
I started writing this blog entry thinking I had something to say, but I really don't - I am just speechless. But as I get to the end, I keep thinking this one thing... I too am willing to die trying to save my son.
