I remember when I was about 7, I learned the importance of following directions. I guess its every dad's duty to teach his son some important lessons. This was one. Now, he didn't just sit me down and explain the importance. No. My dad knew that a lesson with an emotional "tag" would be remembered much more vividly than a dry and boring lecture.
It was my first attempt at water skiing. He bought a special water ski set for children. You see, one of the difficulties of skiing with two skis is that its easy to do the splits. So, the makers of these skis tied the skis together at an appropriate width. Problem solved. This isn't the only problem they tried to solve. Sometimes the grip strength needed to hold the handle as the boat goes from standstill to moving is too much for a little kiddo. So, not only were the skis tied together, but the rope is tied to the front of the skis. There was a separate short piece of rope from the skis front to the handle which I held.
This is where the lesson comes in... so stay with me. Now, the ski "kit" had a second handle. The directions included made provision for this, but my dad wanted to teach me a lesson in following directions. So, he didn't follow them. He said, "they have a spare handle." and left it to the side. He then tied the end of the rope to the boat like every other weekend ski trip... and I got in the water with my dad. Grandfather at the steering wheel, hitting the throttle. I'M UP!!!! Few seconds later, I'm down! I let go as instructed prior. One snafu. The skis are TIED to the boat!!! For the next few hundred yards I am being drug under the water! My short little life flashing before my eyes! I knew I was going to drown!!! Panic! Arms flailing! Grandfather finally stops. Scared, shaken, shaking, but still breathing... I climb into the boat. Dad explained, "I guess I was supposed to use the second handle and have someone in the boat hold it then let go of it if you fell. Let's try it again." "NO!!!" I was not having it. I didn't try to ski again for about 6 years.
I think I read directions more than most men my age. Thanks Dad!
David
It was my first attempt at water skiing. He bought a special water ski set for children. You see, one of the difficulties of skiing with two skis is that its easy to do the splits. So, the makers of these skis tied the skis together at an appropriate width. Problem solved. This isn't the only problem they tried to solve. Sometimes the grip strength needed to hold the handle as the boat goes from standstill to moving is too much for a little kiddo. So, not only were the skis tied together, but the rope is tied to the front of the skis. There was a separate short piece of rope from the skis front to the handle which I held.
This is where the lesson comes in... so stay with me. Now, the ski "kit" had a second handle. The directions included made provision for this, but my dad wanted to teach me a lesson in following directions. So, he didn't follow them. He said, "they have a spare handle." and left it to the side. He then tied the end of the rope to the boat like every other weekend ski trip... and I got in the water with my dad. Grandfather at the steering wheel, hitting the throttle. I'M UP!!!! Few seconds later, I'm down! I let go as instructed prior. One snafu. The skis are TIED to the boat!!! For the next few hundred yards I am being drug under the water! My short little life flashing before my eyes! I knew I was going to drown!!! Panic! Arms flailing! Grandfather finally stops. Scared, shaken, shaking, but still breathing... I climb into the boat. Dad explained, "I guess I was supposed to use the second handle and have someone in the boat hold it then let go of it if you fell. Let's try it again." "NO!!!" I was not having it. I didn't try to ski again for about 6 years.
I think I read directions more than most men my age. Thanks Dad!
David
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