Here's something you might be interested in.
When I have CNN on, and hear the word "shark" I run to the TV. I'm always expecting to see someone that's half eaten, or at least missing a knee cap.
But the story yesterday was six dudes in Florida that got an 800-pound mako.
When I was in radio, my morning show partner and I did these things on Friday where we called ourselves Rick & Dick Danger, the danger rangers. We'd do some crazy stunt (and we always argued which one was "Dick"). One Friday, it was swimming with sharks. I wasn't worried, because a cage was involved. I was less worried, when told I couldn't do it, because I wasn't scuba certified.
My friends know of my fear of sharks. It started when I was a kid that saw Jaws in the theatres. I had to put my feet up, thinking a shark would be on the floor of the theatre, swimming by the caked Junior Mints on the floor. That's how scarey that flick was. In fact, when AFI did a list of worst movie villians, it listed the Great White from Jaws.
When my older brother was teaching me to surf, he laughed at me swimming into shore when I saw a dorsel fin. It ended up being a few dolphins. And, a few days later, a show came on saying how dolphins were smart animals, and the most like humans. He was making fun of me in front of my parents and other siblings, and I said, "Hey...if they are like other humans, well...there was a kid named Terry Snabia in 5th grade that took my lunch money. He would also give Indian burns. So, what if there's a dolphin like that bully? And he wants to bite off body parts that are dangling over the surfboard (use your imagination). I don't need to meet up with the dolphin that's the anti-Flipper."
I relegate my swimming now to my pool. But when it's night, and I don't have the lights on, I can't say the thought of a shark attack in my own backyard doesn't enter my mind.
When I have CNN on, and hear the word "shark" I run to the TV. I'm always expecting to see someone that's half eaten, or at least missing a knee cap.
But the story yesterday was six dudes in Florida that got an 800-pound mako.
When I was in radio, my morning show partner and I did these things on Friday where we called ourselves Rick & Dick Danger, the danger rangers. We'd do some crazy stunt (and we always argued which one was "Dick"). One Friday, it was swimming with sharks. I wasn't worried, because a cage was involved. I was less worried, when told I couldn't do it, because I wasn't scuba certified.
My friends know of my fear of sharks. It started when I was a kid that saw Jaws in the theatres. I had to put my feet up, thinking a shark would be on the floor of the theatre, swimming by the caked Junior Mints on the floor. That's how scarey that flick was. In fact, when AFI did a list of worst movie villians, it listed the Great White from Jaws.
When my older brother was teaching me to surf, he laughed at me swimming into shore when I saw a dorsel fin. It ended up being a few dolphins. And, a few days later, a show came on saying how dolphins were smart animals, and the most like humans. He was making fun of me in front of my parents and other siblings, and I said, "Hey...if they are like other humans, well...there was a kid named Terry Snabia in 5th grade that took my lunch money. He would also give Indian burns. So, what if there's a dolphin like that bully? And he wants to bite off body parts that are dangling over the surfboard (use your imagination). I don't need to meet up with the dolphin that's the anti-Flipper."
I relegate my swimming now to my pool. But when it's night, and I don't have the lights on, I can't say the thought of a shark attack in my own backyard doesn't enter my mind.